Agricultural Soil Management Practices by Assessing the Soil Chemical Properties of Plastic Film Houses in Korea

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the changes of soil chemical properties in the intensive plastic film houses and develop sustainable agricultural practices on soil management. Soil testing data (158,227), uploaded on Korean soil information system (http://soil.rda.go.kr) from 2006 to 2015, were analyzed. The study showed that soil pH and organic matter (OM) have kept within the standard ranges and electrical conductivity (EC), available phosphate (Avail. P2O5) and exchangeable (Exch.) cations (K, Ca, and Mg) were increased from 2006 to 2015. Relative frequency distribution were 57% for pH 6.5<, 32% for OM 15-25 g kg-1 in 2015, and the contents of Exch. K, Ca, and Mg in 2015 was the highest in 0.2-0.5, 6.0-9.0, 2.0-4.0 cmolc kg-1, respectively. Soil pH, Exch. Ca and Mg were high levels in oriental melon growing region and OM, Avail. P2O5 and Exch. K were sufficient in tomato and pepper field. More than half of the farmlands below the standard range of OM contents and the ratio of high range in Exch. Ca and Mg were increased. Soil testing results including pH, OM and Exch. cations are essential parameters for crop growth. According to the results of the soil testing, adequate amount of fertilizer, compost and soil amendment should be supplied to ensure stable crop productivity. Changes in soil chemical properties in the plastic film house from 2006 to 2015 in Korea. Year pH EC† OM Avail. P2O5 Exch. cation No. of sample K Ca Mg (1:5) dS m-1 g kg-1 mg kg-1 ---------- cmolc kg-1 ---------- 2006 6.36f‡ 2.52de 22.9h 523f 0.99d 9.8b 3.0e 14,107 2007 6.43e 2.52de 23.6g 533ef 0.99d 9.1d 3.0e 13,578 2008 6.45e 2.52de 25.9c 612d 1.02c 8.8e 3.1d 12,883 2009 6.56c 2.64b 24.6f 539e 0.95e 9.3c 3.2c 17,373 2010 6.52d 2.49ef 24.8f 621cd 1.02c 8.5f 2.9f 11,467 2011 6.64a 2.55cd 25.5d 622cd 1.06b 9.3c 3.4b 12,657 2012 6.59b 2.60bc 25.2e 634b 1.04b 8.6f 3.0e 17,510 2013 6.55c 2.44f 26.4b 624bc 1.06b 9.4c 3.2c 17,276 2014 6.52d 2.65b 27.5a 630bc 1.11a 9.1d 3.1d 17,795 2015 6.62a 2.99a 25.9c 682a 1.11a 10.2a 3.4a 23,581 †EC, electrical conductivity; OM, organic matter.‡Means within a column followed by the same letters are not significantly different at the 5% level according to Duncan’s multiple range tests.