Final answer:
A farmer planting only soybeans in a 100-hectare field practices monoculture, which can deplete soil nutrients and increase pest problems. Crop rotation, in contrast, sustains soil health and breaks pest cycles, offering environmental and economic benefits by diversifying crops over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of planting a single crop over an entire field, such as soybean over 100 hectares, is known as a monoculture. This form of agriculture involves growing the same crop repeatedly, which can lead to soil nutrient depletion and may attract more plant pests, requiring increased pesticide use. By contrast, crop rotation, which involves alternating different types of crops like corn and soybeans in different seasons, can enhance soil nutrients and disrupt pest cycles, thus reducing reliance on pesticides and promoting sustainability.
In addition to these benefits, crop rotation may also help manage resources and reduce production risks through diversification. It is a sustainable farming strategy that contrasts with monoculture practices, which present various economic and environmental vulnerabilities.