Title: Soil Management Strategies for Radish and Potato Crops: Yield Response and Economical Productivity in the Relation to Organic Fertilizer and Ridging Practice
Abstract: Modern conventional agriculture, which is based on heavy use of chemical fertilizers and energy inputs and oriented to maximization of returns and profits, results in soil fertility decrease, ground water pollution, ecological environment unbalance, as often regarded as detrimental and unsustainable when considered from economic, social and environmental perspectives in a long term. Since the beginning of the 21st century, as sustainability awareness spreads, organic farming and organic food have been attracting a lot of attention due to their direct relationships to nutrition and environment, both essential for our future life. In this context, the development of organic farming has showed a strong growth in the world. Organic farming is the process that crops are planted using only natural methods to increase yield and maintain soil fertility. In comparison with conventional agriculture, organic farming could produce healthier agricultural products while conserving the quality of the soil and surrounding environment.