Identify one potential disadvantage of monoculture farming.

Monoculture farming refers to the agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a large area for consecutive seasons. This method can lead to increased susceptibility to pests and diseases because a uniform crop field creates an ideal environment for pest populations to thrive. When all plants are genetically similar, they may share vulnerabilities that pests and diseases can exploit, leading to potential crop failures. The lack of genetic diversity means that if a particular pest or disease targets that single crop, it can quickly decimate the entire yield.

In contrast, increased diversity of crops, while beneficial for ecosystem health, does not pertain to monoculture, which maintains a singular crop type. Higher overall yield may be a result of monoculture practices in the short term; however, this does not negate the risk associated with the uniformity of plant types. Lastly, reduced resource utilization is not typically a characteristic of monoculture, as it often leads to overuse of specific nutrients and resources tailored to the single crop being cultivated. Overall, the susceptibility to pests and diseases is a significant and well-documented disadvantage of monoculture farming practices.