This study was carried out to obtain the basic and applied informations relating to developing the organic cultivation methods and to increase the productivity and the quality of ginseng. 1 to 5 years-old ginsengs of Jakyung cultivar were cultivated by organic farming under the shading net of three-layered black and one-layered blue polyethylene. The growth characteristics, the content of mineral nutrients, and the content and synthetic amount of saponins were investigated with different growth stages and different years-old.
The results obtained were summarized as the follows;
1. Plant height, stem length and stem diameter from one to four-year old were straightly increased, and then were slightly decreased since four-year old and there was no any significant difference statistically in plant height between paddy and upland field from one to four year-old, however the plant height in five year old was shorter in paddy, 53.8cm, than that in upland field, 74.1cm, in 2011
Plant height, stem length, and stem diameter which were grown from one to two-year old were gently increased, and they were rapidly increased from two-year old to tree-year old. In contrast, they were gradually increased or decreased from four to five year old.
2. Unlike the conventional cultivation of ginseng, early defoliations were occurred with organic cultivation in both 2011 and 2012. Early defoliation was several in one to two years-old ginseng than those of ginseng above three to five years-old.
3. The root length were continuously increased from one to five years-old. The root length of one-year old ginseng in paddy and in upland fields was about 15.88cm and about 19.62cm, respactively.
4. There was no significant difference in root length from one to two-year old in between paddy and uplands field in 2011. The root length after three-year old was longer in upland field than that in paddy field. However, it of five-years old was longer in upland field compared to that in paddy field.
5. Tap root length was continuously increased from one year-old until five-year old. Tap root length in paddy field were higher than that in upland field at all ages except for three-year old in 2012.
6. Root diameter was countinuously increased from one-year old to five-year old in 2011 and 2012 showing thicker on upland field than that on paddy field.
The root diameter of all aged ginseng was thicker with upland field compared to that with paddy field in 2011, while it was slightly thicker with paddy field than that with upland field until three year-old in 2012 and then it was much thicker in uplasnd field than that in paddy field since four-year old ginseng.
7. The fresh weight of shoot of ginseng grown with organic cultivation in paddy field was continuously increased from 1 to 4 year-old, and then it was not increased much on 5 year-old and it of shoot in upland field was continuously increased from 1 to 5year-old in 2011. In 2012, however, the fresh weight of shoot was similar tendency until four year old in 2011, however it was not increased much on 5 year-old in paddy and upland fields.
The fresh weight of shoot of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared big different due to early defoliation, which was occurred from the end of June.
8. The fresh weight of root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation in paddy and upland fields was continuously increased from 1 to 5 year-old in 2011 and 2012 unlike the fresh weight of shoot was shown.
9. The fresh weight of tap root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation in paddy field was continuously increased from one-year old to three-year old, and it was decreased on four-year old, and then it was increased on five-year old in 2012. The fresh weight of tap root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation in upland field was continuously increased from 1 to 5 year-old in 2012.
10. The fresh weight of lateral root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation in paddy and upland field was continuously increased from 1 to 5 year-old in 2012.
11. The dry weight of shoot of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was linearly increased from 1 to 4 year-old in 2011 and 2012 and then it was maintained without increasing much.
In contrast with the dry weight of shoot, the dry weight of root was continuouosly increased from one to five year old in both years.
12. Moisture content was different in tissues of ginseng. Stem had the highest content of moisture, about 86.3%. The second highest content was in leaves, about 77.4%, 74.1% in lateral root, and 72.25% in tap root.
13. In 2011, the content of N and P in root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was increased from June 20 to August 5, and then was decreased. The content of K in root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was repeatedly increased until June 20 and decreased from June 20 to November.
In 2012, the content of N, P, and K in root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was decreased from May 8 to June 8, and then was slightly increased to November.
14. The uptake amount of mineral nutrients of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was generally increased from 3 to 5 years-old and the highest content was in 4 years-old.
The uptake amount of N was higher in paddy field than that in upland field, whereas the uptake amount of P, Ca and Mg in was higher upland field.
15. In 2011, the saponin content of leaves of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared with five different year old and two different fields. It of one year-old was higher in paddy field than those in upland field, and its content of 2 and 4 year old was not clearly different in between paddy and upland fields. It of 3 and 5 year old was higher in upland field than that in paddy field. The highest of Saponin content in leaves of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was in one-year old compared to other year old.
In 2012, saponin content of leaves was similar tendency like 2011.
Saponin content in leaves of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared higher in ordering of 1, 3, 2, 5 and 4 years-old of ginseng.
16. Ginsenosides were detected 12 ginsenosides, showing the higher ordering of Re, Rg1, Rb2, Rb1 and Rb3 and the other components were below 0.10%.
17. In 2011, the saponin content of stem of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared with five different year old and two different fields. It of one and two year-old was higher in upland field than those in paddy field, and its content of two and four year old was not clearly different in between paddy and upland fields. It of 5 year old was higher in paddy field than that in upland field. The highest of Saponin content in stem of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was in one-year old compared to other year old.
In 2012, saponin content of stem was similar tendency like 2011.
Saponin content in stem of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared higher in ordering of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 4 years-old of ginseng.
18. Ginsenosides were detected 12 ginsenosides, showing the higher ordering of Re, Rg1, and the other components were below 0.10%.
19. In 2011, the saponin content of tap root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared with five different year old and two different fields. It of one, two and four year-old was higher in paddy field than those in upland field, and its content of three year old was not clearly different in between paddy and upland fields. It of two year old was higher in upland field than that in paddy field. The highest of Saponin content in tap root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was in one-year old compared to other year old.
In 2012, saponin content of tap root was similar tendency like 2011.
Saponin content in tap root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared higher in ordering of 5, 1, 4, 3 and 2 years-old of ginseng.
20. Ginsenosides were detected 12 ginsenosides, showing the higher ordering of Re, Rg1, Rg2, Rb1 and Rb and the other components were below 0.10%.
21. In 2011, the saponin content of lateral root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared with five different year old and two different fields. It of three, four and five year-old was higher in paddy field than those in upland field.
In 2012, saponin content of lateral root was similar tendency like 2011.
Saponin content in lateral root of ginseng grown with organic cultivation was appeared higher in ordering of 4, 3, and 5 years-old of ginseng.
22. Ginsenosides were detected 12 ginsenosides, showing the higher ordering of Re, Rg2, Rh1, Rc and Rb3 and the other components were below 0.10%.
23. The content of saponin in tissues of root was showed the highest in the fine root, the second was in the lateral root, and the third was in the tap root. In contrast with the content of saponin, the synthetic amont of saponin was appeared the highest in the tap root, the second lateral root, and the third fine root.