monocropping
|mo-no-crop-ping|
🇺🇸
/ˈmɑnoʊˌkrɑpɪŋ/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɒnəˌkrɒpɪŋ/
(monocrop)
growing one crop repeatedly
Etymology
'monocropping' is formed in Modern English from the Greek prefix 'mono-' (from Greek 'monos') meaning 'single' and the English word 'crop' (from Old English 'cropp'), where 'mono-' meant 'single' and 'crop' meant 'a harvest or produce'.
'crop' changed from the Old English word 'cropp' and became the Modern English 'crop'; later the Greek prefix 'mono-' was combined with 'crop' to create compounds such as 'monocrop' and the gerund/nominal form 'monocropping'.
Initially, the elements meant 'single' (mono-) and 'harvest/produce' (crop); over time the compound 'monocropping' evolved to mean the specific agricultural practice of repeatedly growing a single crop on the same land.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the agricultural practice of growing the same crop on the same land year after year, often leading to reduced soil fertility, increased pests and diseases, and greater reliance on chemical inputs.
Monocropping can boost short-term yields but often harms long-term soil health and biodiversity.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/23 21:58