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2025 Vol.58, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original research article

Baseline characterization of soil micronutrients in arable soils of Korea
Seok Soon Jeong1
,
Jung-Hwan Yoon2
,
Hyuck Soo Kim3
,
Sang Phil Lee2
,
Sung Chul Kim4
,
Sang Soo Lee5
,
Jae E Yang6*
1Postdoctoral Feollow, Agriculture and Life Science Research Institute, Kangwon National University., Chuncheon 24341, Korea
2Research Professor, Agriculture and Life Science Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
3Associate Professor, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
4Professor, Department of Bio Environmental Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
5Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea
6Professor Emritus, Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
*Corresponding Author
30 November 2025. pp. 563-574
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Abstract

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.

Soil samples for analysis and status of soil micronutrients in different land uses.
Keywords
Agricultural soil
Land use type
Mehlich Ⅲ
Micronutrient
Soil property
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국토양비료학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국토양비료학회 학회지
  • Volume : 58
  • No :4
  • Pages :563-574
  • Received Date : 2025-10-13
  • Revised Date : 2025-11-07
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-12
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.4.563
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