Which of the following is NOT a benefit of strip cropping?

Strip cropping involves alternating strips of different crops within a field to optimize land use and mitigate environmental impacts. One significant benefit of strip cropping is erosion reduction, as the differing root structures and crop cover help to hold soil in place, preventing it from being washed away by rain or blown away by wind. Additionally, strip cropping can enhance water retention because diverse crops, particularly those with deep and varied root systems, can improve soil structure, allowing more water to infiltrate and reducing surface runoff.

Another advantage of strip cropping is that it diversifies crop production. By growing multiple types of crops in proximity, farmers can break pest and disease cycles, decrease dependence on chemical inputs, and improve biodiversity in the soil ecosystem, leading to healthier and more resilient agricultural systems.

In contrast, increasing the yield of monoculture crops is not a benefit of strip cropping. Monoculture refers to the practice of growing a single crop over an extensive area, which can lead to various challenges, such as increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, depletion of specific soil nutrients, and greater erosion risk. Strip cropping is designed to promote diversity and sustainability, and its practices do not typically focus on enhancing the yields of monocultures, as the fundamental principle behind it is to combine different crops rather than