집약적 농업시스템으로 특징되는 관행농업은 생산성 증대를 이루었으나, 토질과 수질의 악화 등 농업환경을 오염시키며 농업생태계에 부정적인 영향을 미쳤다. 이 연구의 목적은 농업인의 지속가능농업에 대한 관점과 태도를 파악하고, 새로운 영농방식 실천에 장애가 되는 경제적 요인을 분석하는 데 있다. 아울러 농업인들이 인식하는 경제적 장애요인들에 영향을 미치는 변수들을 실증적으로 추적하는 데 연구의 추가적인 목적이 있다. 농업인들은 지속가능농업이 당면한 가장 중요한 문제로 수익성 유지를 지적하면서 이를 최우선적으로 중점을 두고 해결할 것을 주문하였다. 지속가능농업 채택률을 향상시키기 위해서 경제적 동기와 인센티브의 중요성을 강조하였으며, 과거에 비해 향후 지속가능성을 높게 전망했다. 관행농업인이거나 관행농업에서 지속가능농업으로 전환중인 농업인, 그리고 과거에 지속가능농업을 들어 본 적이 있는 농업인이 주목하는 경제적 장애요인은 관행농업에서 지속가능농업으로 전환 시 초래되는 비용으로 나타났다. 지속가능농업 시스템이 구축되었을 때, 효과적이고 효율적인 운영을 위해 농업인이 주도해야 한다고 인식하는 농업인에게는 새로운 영농방식의 불확실성은 큰 장애가 되지 않은 것으로 분석되었다.

The study was initiated to compare seasonal nutrient variations and rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity in each of leading rice farm with conventionally managed and recommended fertilized of the large-scale environment-friendly agricultural districts in Jangheung, Suncheon, and Okcheon provinces in 2017. Suncheon rice experimental farm plots included a recommended fertilization plot that had been additionally sown hairy vetch in the fall of previous year, while Okcheon rice farm included a recommended fertilization plot applying half amount of the compost in the conventional plot. A Jangheung rice farm only practiced crop-livestock farming system. Soil pH and EC in all experimental plots were suitable levels for rice growth to cultivate. Seasonal soil pH from March to September was the highest for Suncheon rice farm, and seasonal soil EC was the highest for Jangheung rice farm. Seasonal soil T-N increased in all the plots from March to June in particular for Suncheon rice farm, and Jangheung rice farm had the lowest seasonal soil P. Seasonal soil K decreased in all the plots, with the lowest levels observed for Okcheon farm. Seasonal soil NH4 + mostly increased by up to 90 mg/kg in Jangheung rice farm from March to June. Seasonal plant T-N, P and K concentrations were the highest for Jangheung rice farm. Seasonal plant T-N and P concentrations decreased from June to September, but K leveles were fluctuated between 2.0% and 2.5%. Seasonal SPAD value was the lowest in Suncheon conventional plot. Jangheung rice farm plot produced 6,303 kg of rice per ha, which was approximately two times higher than those of Okcheon recommended plot. The seasonal T-N, P and K balance was the highest in Okcheon conventional plot, with the lowest values observed for Suncheon conventional plot. As a result, Suncheon recommended plot showed relatively low levels of seasonal macro-nutrient balance and the highest rice production, which could be the most environmentally friendly farm practiced conducted in this study.

This study was conducted to compare the community structure and biodiversity of ground-dwelling invertebrates between conventional and organic paddy fields’s levees. Ground-dwelling invertebrates were collected using a pitfall trap every month for two years (2010-2011) in levees of conventional and organic paddy fields. The numbers of species and individuals were higher in organic paddy field than in conventional paddy field. For the pests, the treatment of insecticide and herbicide reduced the number of Delphacidae, and Chrysomelidae, but did not affect the other pests such as Chronomidae, Culicidae, Thripidae, and Aphididae. For the natural enemies, the treatment reduced the number of individuals of most of enemy's taxon (except only one taxonomic group, Ichneumonidae) in the levee of conventional paddy field.