Monoculture is the practice of cultivating a single crop species over a large area of land. A major disadvantage of monoculture is that it creates an environment where diseases and pests can build up easily. This is because the large area planted with the same crop provides a perfect breeding ground for pests and pathogens that can destroy the crop. In addition, monoculture reduces the diversity of soil microbes that are essential for healthy soil. Over time, the continuous cultivation of a single crop can deplete the soil nutrients, leading to poor soil texture. Although it may be possible to mechanize a monoculture farm, this is not a major disadvantage.