Editing Monoculture (section)

== Alternatives to monoculture ==
Alternatives to monoculture include the consultation of agroecology,<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Salleh |first=Ariel |date=2023-09-19 |title=Extractivisms, existences, and extinctions: monoculture plantations and Amazon deforestation. Markus Kroger, Extractivisms, existences, and extinctions: monoculture plantations and Amazon deforestation . London: Routledge, 2022. US$160(Hardcover). ISBN 9780367610302: Markus Kroger, London: Routledge, 2022. US$160 (Hardcover). ISBN 9780367610302 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03066150.2022.2137625 |journal=The Journal of Peasant Studies |language=en |volume=50 |issue=6 |pages=2501–2504 |doi=10.1080/03066150.2022.2137625 |issn=0306-6150}}</ref> silvo-pastoral systems,<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Narjes Sanchez |first1=Manuel Ernesto |last2=Cardoso Arango |first2=Juan Andrés |last3=Burkart |first3=Stefan |date=2021-09-22 |title=Promoting Forage Legume–Pollinator Interactions: Integrating Crop Pollination Management, Native Beekeeping and Silvopastoral Systems in Tropical Latin America |journal=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |language=English |volume=5 |doi=10.3389/fsufs.2021.725981 |issn=2571-581X |doi-access=free}}</ref> and mixed-species plantations.<ref name=":3" />

=== Agroecology ===
[[Agroecology]] consults the entire food system, considering how agricultural inputs and outputs affect social, environmental, and economic systems.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gliessman |first=Steve |date=2018-07-03 |title=Defining Agroecology |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21683565.2018.1432329 |journal=Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems |language=en |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=599–600 |doi=10.1080/21683565.2018.1432329 |bibcode=2018AgSFS..42..599G |issn=2168-3565}}</ref> Despite the recent dominance of GMO monoculture crop rotations of soy, corn, and cotton across the deforested Amazon, many Afrodescendant-run farms in Brazil continue to use traditional practices of agroecology that have the capacity to sustain the local community, environment, and economy.<ref name=":6" /> Ecosystem-specific ecological damage done by monocultural practices and byproducts, including the use of [[biocide]]s and soil degradation, can be irreparable.<ref name=":6" /> However, the increasing modern prevalence of [[Regenerative agriculture|regenerative farming]] reinstates crop rotation and natural nutrient cycling to repair biodiversity and improve soil productivity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Giller |first1=Ken E |last2=Hijbeek |first2=Renske |last3=Andersson |first3=Jens A |last4=Sumberg |first4=James |date=2021 |title=Regenerative Agriculture: An agronomic perspective |journal=Outlook on Agriculture |language=en |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=13–25 |doi=10.1177/0030727021998063 |issn=0030-7270 |pmc=8023280 |pmid=33867585|bibcode=2021OutAg..50...13G }}</ref>

=== Silvopasture ===
[[Silvopasture]] is a traditional practice that incorporates the use of various trees and forage in pastures to increase land and livestock productivity.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Jose |first1=Shibu |last2=Dollinger |first2=Jeanne |date=2019-02-01 |title=Silvopasture: a sustainable livestock production system |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10457-019-00366-8 |journal=Agroforestry Systems |language=en |volume=93 |issue=1 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1007/s10457-019-00366-8 |bibcode=2019AgrSy..93....1J |issn=1572-9680}}</ref> Incorporating other plants in pastures, such as tree legumes, has been shown to enhance pollinator activity, benefitting local biodiversity and food security.<ref name=":4" /> Silvopastoral systems provide greater pasture species richness and grazing feed, increasing economic and environmental outcomes on various size scales.<ref name=":5" />

=== Mixed-species plantations ===
In several studies, well-managed mixed-species plantations have been shown to produce greater economic outcomes than monocultures with regard to timber sales.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Mixed-species forests are also associated with greater carbon sequestration and biodiversity, presenting a possible mitigation tactic against the climate crisis and current global carbon levels.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> However, mixed-species plantations are less common under the misconception of being more expensive and harder to manage.<ref name=":3" />