Root crops and soil biology

As I've been learning more about maintaining a favorable soil biology, I've come to understand the value of leaving soil undisturbed. What is a useful way of thinking about this as it relates to growing root crops, such as sweet potatoes, true yams, achira, taro, etc.? Harvesting requires disturbing the soil. Does this imply that it is best to pick an area to grow these crops and just add compost when replanting/periodically? How do you approach growing root crops with the intention of managing the soil ecosystem?

Mike Benjamin wrote:What is a useful way of thinking about this as it relates to growing root crops, such as sweet potatoes, true yams, achira, taro, etc.? Harvesting requires disturbing the soil. Does this imply that it is best to pick an area to grow these crops and just add compost when replanting/periodically? How do you approach growing root crops with the intention of managing the soil ecosystem?

When harvesting root crops maybe use a broad fork so that the potatoes and other root crops come out easily without digging up the whole bed.

Your questions sparked my interest and I found some threads that you or others might find interesting:

https://permies.com/t/145706/Growing-dig-potatoes

https://permies.com/t/141439/permaculture/dig-gardening-growing-wheat-green

https://permies.com/t/85187/Planting-root-crops-woodchips-dig

This is my first time doing growing potatoe but I set them on top of natural ground with a thin layer of compost. Then piled up old hay on top as they grow more. It seems to be working very well but I guess I won’t know for sure till harvest time.

I figured I’ll at least get some and the heavy mulch should improve the soil in that spot where I intend to make another raised bed next year.

But I think harvesting veg and tilling would be considered quite different in terms of harm to soil but that is just my thoughts.