What environmental concern is associated with conventional cotton farming?

High levels of water usage are a significant environmental concern associated with conventional cotton farming. Cotton is known to be a water-intensive crop, requiring substantial irrigation to thrive, especially in regions that do not receive adequate rainfall. The demand for water can lead to over-extraction of local water sources, potentially depleting rivers, lakes, and aquifers. This intensive water use can have cascading effects on the ecosystem, including reduced water availability for other agricultural practices, impacting local communities and wildlife that depend on those water sources.

In contrast, low soil fertility may occur over time due to practices like monocropping, but this is not as immediately recognized as an environmental concern as the extensive water requirements. Excessive biodiversity is typically seen as beneficial rather than a concern, and decreased pest populations might indicate effective pest management practices, which can be advantageous for the cotton crop. Therefore, the overconsumption of water stands out as a pressing issue within the context of conventional cotton farming.