Question

Crop plants grow in monoculture are
(A) Characterized by a poor root system
(B) Highly prone to pests
(C) Low in yields
(D) Free from intraspecific competition

Answer 1

Monoculture is an efficient agricultural practice that helps the farmer in planting, managing, and harvesting the crops in a very efficient way. However, it has certainly noticeable demerits as well.

Complete answer:
Monoculture is a very effective process for certain kinds of soils, however, plants grown in such a way are highly prone to pests.
In monoculture practice, only one crop or plant species, variety, or breed is grown in a field at a time. It is widely used in industrial as well as organic farming and helps farmers go increase efficiency in raising the crop but at the same time it also increases the risk for diseases and pest attacks.

Additional Information: The biggest risk in monoculture is the buildup of pests and diseases in the crops. When continuous monocropping happens, it leads to this risk and rapid spread of pests where a uniform crop is susceptible to a pathogen. To reduce the risk, a diverse rotation of crops is a useful way. But shorter rotation can maximize the risk, hence 3 or more crops are rotated for pests and disease management.
So, the correct answer is "(B) Highly prone to disease".

Note: The opposite of monoculture is polyculture in which more than one species is grown in a field at a time. It is the most prevalent practice of agriculture and is found in many types such as intercropping, cover cropping, permaculture, etc. In polyculture, crops are less prone to pests than in monoculture. However, monoculture is beneficial in a way that farmers can efficiently plant, manage, and harvest the crops, and yield per year is greater and less costly.