Dr. Theodore James Kelly Radovich
Assistant Specialist
Sustainable and Organic Farming Systems
Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Science
3190 Maile Way, St. John 102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Email: theodore@hawaii.edu
PHONE: (808) 956-7909 FAX: (808) 956-3894
AREA OF SPECIALTY: Ecology, yield and quality of food crops
VIEW Theodore J.K. Radovich BIO
Current Positions:
- Assistant Specialist, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
- Hawaii State Coordinator, USDA Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (WSARE).
Education:
- Ph.D., Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, 2004.
- M.Sc., Horticulture, University of Hawaii, Manoa, 2000.
- B.Sc., Horticulture, University of Hawaii, Manoa, 1994
Recent Grant Awards
(PI) Reducing Pacific Island Growers’ Reliance on Off-Island Fertilizer Sources through Improved Awareness and Efficient Use of Local Inputs. USDA Western SARE Chapter One Research and Education Gran. 2011. Funding awarded: $284,070
(PI) Vermicompost-based media to enhance organic vegetable seedling vigor, yield, crop quality and grower profitability. USDA Organic Research and Extension Initiative. 2009-2012. $351,000.
(PI) Enhancing Phyto-nutrient Content, Yield and Quality of Vegetables with Compost Tea in the Tropics. USDA Western SARE Chapter One Research and Education Grant, Project No.: SW07-073. 2007-2010. Funding awarded: $160,500.
(PI) Enhancing Soil Quality and Fruit Tree Growth with Arachis pintoi Cover Crops in Hawai’i Orchards. HFBF. 2007-2008, Funding awarded: $38,751
(PI) Evaluating and Protecting Unusual Avocado Germplasm in Hawaii. USDA Special Tropical Fruit Grant Program. $38,200
(Co-PI) Sustainable Farming Systems: Critical Needs Research. USDA Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research (T-STAR) program. 2006-2009. Funding awarded: $360,000.
(Co-PI) An Innovative Cover Cropping System for Organic Cucurbit Growers in Hawaii: From Nematode and Pickle Worm Management, Improvement of Pollinator Habitat to Soil Conservation. NRCS, CIG funding category: Sustainable and Organic Agriculture. PI: Koon-Hui Wang, University of Hawaii, Manoa. 2010-1012. Funding awarded: $150,000
(Co-PI) Development of sustainable food waste vermicompost-integrated aquaponic farming systems for cultivation of taro (Colocasia esculenta). USDA Hatch. 2010-1015. PI: Clyde Tamaru.
(Co-PI) Promoting adaptive management with ‘Tropic Sun’ sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) in Hawaii for cological strategies in weed control, nematode suppression and nutrient management. USDA WSARE PDP program. 2009-2011. Funding awarded: $53,768.
Courses Developed and Taught
Organic Food Crop Production. (TPSS 220). University of Hawaii, Manoa. Provides a science- based overview of the ecological processes that are relied on in organic agricultural systems. Emphasis is placed on management strategies for vegetable production.
Vegetable Crop Production. (TPSS 401) University of Hawaii, Manoa. Crop biology, requirements, and production techniques for commercial vegetable production in Hawai‘i are emphasized.
Weed Science. (TPSS/PEPS 481). University of Hawaii, Manoa. Topics covered include weed ecology, integrated management plan development, cover crops, crop selection, rotation, cultivation, flaming, chemical control.
Herbs, Spices and Flavorings. (TPSS 120C). University of Hawaii, Manoa. Origins, social, cultural, and ceremonial traditions; food and nutritional properties. Processing of a variety of tropical horticultural plants are presented, with tasting sessions and field trips.
Selected Publications
Radovich, T.J.K. 2011. Biology and Classification of Vegetables. Chapter 1 in: Handbook of Vegetables and Vegetable Processing. Wiley-Blackwell, Iowa.
Radovich, T.J.K. 2010. Cabbage Flavor. Chapter 38 in: Handbook of Vegetable Flavors: Commodities, Products, Spices and Edible Oils. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
L. Cox, T. Radovich and J. Sugano. 2011. The Costs of “Organic” Insecticides. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii. SA-4.
Uyeda, J., L. Cox and T. Radovich. 2011. An Economic Comparison of Commercially Available Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers for Hydroponic Lettuce Production. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii. SA-5.
Radovich, T. 2010. Pumpkin and Squash (Cucurbita spp). In: C.R. Elevitch (ed.). Farm and Forestry Production and Marketing Profiles for Pacific Islands. Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Hōlualoa, Hawai‘i. <http://www.agroforestry.net/pubs>
Pant, A., T.J.K. Radovich, N.V. Hue, S. T. Talcott, and K.A. Krenek. 2009. Compost extracts influence growth, total carotenoids, phenolics and antioxidant activity in Pak choi (Brassica rapa Chinensis group) grown under two fertilizer regimes. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 89:2383-2392.
Radovich, T. L.J. Cox and J. Hollyer. 2009. Overview of organic food crop systems in Hawai‘i. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii. SA-3.
Radovich, T., L.J. Cox, J Sugano and T. Idol. 2009. Benefits and costs of using perennial peanut as living mulch for fruit trees in Hawai’i. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii. SCM-27.
Radovich, T. 2009. Moringa (Moringa oleifera). In: C.R. Elevitch (ed.). Farm and Forestry Production and Marketing Profiles for Pacific Islands. Permanent Agriculture Resources (PAR), Hōlualoa, Hawai‘i. <http://www.agroforestry.net/pubs>
J. Krishnakumar, C. Chan-Halbrendt, T. Radovich, P. Sullivan and K. Love. 2009. Supply-Demand Integrated Management Model for Effective Farmer-Buyer Coordination: Case of the Hawaii Avocado Industry. Journal on Chain and Network Science 9:17-23.
Radovich, T.J.K., M.D. Kleinhenz, J.G. Streeter. 2005. Irrigation Timing Relative to Head Development Influences Yield Components, Sugar Levels, and Glucosinolate Concentrations in Cabbage. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 130:943-949.
Radovich, T.J.K., M.D. Kleinhenz, J.G. Streeter, A.R. Miller and J.C. Scheerens. 2005. Planting date affects total glucosinolate concentrations in six commercial cultivars of cabbage (Brassica olereacea L., Capitata Group). HortScience 40:106-110.
Radovich, T.J.K., M.D. Kleinhenz, J.F. Delwiche and R.E. Liggett. 2004. Triangle tests indicate that irrigation timing affects fresh cabbage sensory quality. Food Quality and Preference 15: 471-476.
Radovich, T.J.K., M.D. Kleinhenz and N.J. Honeck. 2004. Important cabbage head traits at five points in development. Journal of Vegetable Crop Production 10:19-32.
Videos
Radovich, T., J. Smith, A. Render and J. Deenik. 2007. Vermicompost in Hawaii: Its Production and Use. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Virtual Field Day.
Radovich, T., J. Radovich. 2010. Producing Organic Papaya Seed. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
Professional Service and Membership
Organizations
- Hawaii SARE PDP Coordinator
- Coordinator, CTAHR Organic Working Group
- Hawaii Cooperative Organic Farmers. Advisor 2006-present
Reviewer
- The Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
- The African Crop Science Journal
- Soil Science Society of America Journal
Membership
- The American Society for Horticultural Science, Member since 1999
- Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honor Society, Member since 2004
- Horticulture and Crop Science Seminar Committee, Ohio State University, Member: 1/01-6/03, Chair: 6/01-12/01