Baseline characterization of soil micronutrients in arable soils of Korea

초록

Soil is the primary source of nutrients, prociding approximately 95% of human food directly or indirectly. Although macronutrient management in agriculture has been substantially improved through fertilizer application, micronutrient supplementation has received considerably less attention, resulting in widespread deficiencies in agricultural soils with conseuquent impacts on crop productivity and food nutritional quality. To date, no comprehensive nationwide survey assessing soil micronutrient status has been conducted in Korean agricultural soils.This study aimed to provide the first nationalwide assessment of soil micronutrient satus (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in Korean agirucltuyral soils. A total of 2,457 soil samples collected from different land use types and parent materials throughout Korea. Plant-available micronutrients were quantified using the Mehlich Ⅲ extraction method. Correlations between soil micronutrient contents and soil properties (pH, organic matter, available phosphate, exchangeable cations) were evaluated. Mean soil micronutrient contents were Cu 4.5 mg kg-1, Fe 394.8 mg kg-1, Mn 101.7 mg kg-1, and Zn 18.2 mg kg-1. Greenhouse soils exhibited the highest contents among land use types. Soils derived from sedimentary rocks exhibited the greatest micronutrient contents among parent materials. Soil micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with soil properties. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of micronutrient status in Korean agricultural soils. The findings establish a baseline for future research and highlight the need for improved micronutrient management in relation to land use, soil parent materials, and soil properties.

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