overfarming

Overfarming refers to the practice of cultivating land beyond its sustained productive capacity, often through repeated cropping with insufficient soil replenishment. It can result from continuous monoculture, inadequate fallow periods, excessive removal of nutrients, and poor soil management. The effect is gradual soil degradation that reduces yields and increases vulnerability to erosion, drought, and water quality problems.

Mechanisms include nutrient depletion from crops, loss of soil organic matter, soil compaction from heavy machinery, and salinization or waterlogging from improper irrigation. Over time, soil structure deteriorates, infiltration declines, and pest and weed cycles may intensify as less fertile soils support fewer beneficial organisms.

Consequences include lower agricultural productivity, higher production costs, and greater risk of crop failure. Environmental impacts can include sedimentation and nutrient runoff to streams and rivers, loss of biodiversity, and desertification in extreme cases. Regions with fragile soils or limited rainfall are especially vulnerable.

Management to prevent or reverse overfarming emphasizes soil fertility restoration and conservation: crop rotation and intercropping, cover crops, green manures, compost and balanced fertilization guided by soil testing, reduced or conservation tillage, terracing, agroforestry, and improved irrigation methods such as drip irrigation and scheduling to minimize water waste. Policies and programs that promote soil health, farmer education, and access to inputs support sustainable land use. Monitoring indicators include soil organic matter, nutrient balance, soil erosion rates, infiltration, and crop yields.