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2025 Vol.58, Issue 4 Preview Page

Short communication

Soil health assessment of conventional and organic grape orchards based on soil chemical properties
Yeon-Ho Kim14
,
Hye-Ban Namgung1
,
Sang-Min Lee3
,
Sung-chul Kim5†
,
Hyun-Young Hwang2*
1Research Assistant, Regenerative organic Agriculture Division, Department of Agricultural Environment, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
2Researcher, Regenerative organic Agriculture Division, Department of Agricultural Environment, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
3Senior Researcher, Regenerative organic Agriculture Division, Department of Agricultural Environment, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju 55365, Korea
4Doctoral students, Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
5Professor, Department of Bio-Environmental Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†This author contributed equally as a co-corresponding author.
30 November 2025. pp. 663-673
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Abstract

Soil chemical properties play a key role in determining the growth, nutrient uptake, and fruit quality of perennial crops such as grapes. This study assessed soil health based on the chemical characteristics of under different management practices and orchard ages. These nationwide soil properties datas were obtained from Heuktoram, Korea’s national soil testing information system. The management systems were categorized into organic farming (OF), non-pesticide farming (NF), and conventional farming (CF), while orchard age was classified as 1 - 4 years, 5 - 10 years, and over 11 years. Under OF, Soil pH increased with orchard, whereas it tended to decrease under NF and CF. Soil organic matter (SOM), an indicator of soil health improvement, showed the highest content in OF orchard older than 10 years, with a 55% increase compared to 1 - 4 years, while CF exhibited only a 15% increase. Available P₂O₅ (Av. P₂O₅) content increased with orchard age across all management systems. Exchangeable cation (Ex. cation) contents were generally higher in OF and CF than in NF. However, both Av. P₂O₅ and Ex. cations levels exceeded the optimal range, precise nutrient management based on soil testing is essential to prevent potential environmental pollution. The soil health index, evaluated based on soil chemical properties, was highest in OF orchards aged 5 - 10 years and over 11 years, ranging from 5.16 to 5.19. This was primarily attributed to the elevated SOM index (0.63 - 0.74) in these orchards, indicating that long-term organic management enhances SOM content, thereby improving soil chemical properties and promoting overall soil health.

Soil chemical properties under different management practices and orchard ages.
Management1 Period pH EC2 SOM3 Av. P2O54 Exch. cations5 (cmolc kg-1)
(dS m-1) (g kg-1) (mg kg-1) K Ca Mg
OF 1 - 4 yr 6.61 ab6 2.14 a 19.67 e 524.86 d 1.15 abcd 8.20 cd 2.98 a
5 - 10 yr 6.53 b 2.19 a 26.87 b 680.54 ab 1.29 a 9.30 ab 3.01 a
≥ 11 yr 6.82 a 1.30 b 30.47 a 675.42 ab 1.12 abcd 9.68 a 2.56 bc
Total 6.60 A 2.09 A 22.96 B 589.61 AB 1.19 A 8.68 A 2.95 A
NF 1 - 4 yr 6.60 ab 1.84 a 24.89 bcd 571.37 cd 1.08 bcd 8.47 bcd 2.71 abc
5 - 10 yr 6.48 b 1.91 a 23.44 cd 580.80 cd 0.97 cd 7.64 d 2.38 c
≥ 11 yr 6.43 bc 1.00 b 24.78 bcd 608.46 bc 0.94 d 8.46 bcd 2.33 c
Total 6.52 AB 1.63 B 24.47 A 584.52 B 1.01 B 8.24 B 2.51 C
CF 1 - 4 yr 6.56 b 2.08 a 21.67 de 589.22 cd 1.17 abc 8.21 cd 2.80 ab
5 - 10 yr 6.38 bc 2.17 a 24.23 bcd 678.90 ab 1.29 a 8.72 abc 2.86 ab
≥ 11 yr 6.20 c 1.80 a 25.05 bc 727.33 a 1.20 ab 7.78 cd 2.53 bc
Total 6.48 B 2.09 A 22.76 B 628.89 A 1.21 A 8.35 AB 2.80 B
ANOVA
Management ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Period ** ** ** ** NS NS **
Management × Period ** ** ** * * ** NS

1OF, organic farming; NF, non-pesticide farming; CF, conventional farming;

2EC, electrical conductivity;

3SOM, soil organic matter;

4Av. P2O5, available P2O5.;

5Ex. Cations, Exchangeable cations.

Different letters indicate significant difference at p < 0.05. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.

Keywords
Grape orchard
Organic farming
Soil fertility
Soil health assessment
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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 :663-673
  • Received Date : 2025-11-03
  • Revised Date : 2025-11-25
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-26
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7745/KJSSF.2025.58.4.663
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