경기도 안성지역의 4~6년생 재래종 (자경종) 인삼포장에서 4월 28일에서 9월 30일까지 월별 지하부 생육특성과 엑스함량의 경시적 변화를 조사한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1. 동체장은 월별 수축과 회복을 반복하여 9월 수확기까지 증가되지 않았으나 동체직경은 점진적인 증가를 보였다. 2. 단위 면적당 지상부중은 4월부터 급격히 증가하여 7월에 최고를 보인 후 차차 감소되었으며, 지하부중은 5월에 감소된 후 9월 수확기까지 점차 증가되었는데, 6년생은 7월 이후 약간의 감소를 보였다. 3. 지하부의 상대생장율은 전엽기인 5월과 고온기인 8월에 감소되었고 6, 7, 9월에 다시 증가되었는데, 6년생의 지근과 세근은 4~5년생에 비해 월별 뚜렷한 변화를 보이지 않았다. 4. 상품비율 (근중 60g 이상)은 연생이 증가할수록 커서 4년생 23%, 5년생 60%, 6년생 69% 이었다. 5. 뿌리의 수분함량은 수확기까지 차차 감소되었는데, 7~9월까지 유의적인 차이를 보이지 않았으며, 9월 수확기의 수분함량은 4년생 〉 5년생 〉 6년생순 이었다. 6. 동체의 경도는 5월에 감소된 후 급격히 증가되었는데, 4~5년생은 6~9월까지 대체로 증가되었으나 6년생은 8월부터 차차 감소되어 4~5년생과 유의적인 차이를 보였다. 7. 동체와 지근의 엑스함량은 4월부터 6월까지 급격히 감소된 후 9월에 다시 증가되었는데, 4~5월의 엑스함량은 4년생이 5~6년생보다 많았으나 9월에는 연생 간에 뚜렷한 차이가 없었다.
Monthly changes of underground growth and ethanol extract content was investigated from April to September in Korean ginseng of 4, 5 and 6 year-old. Taproot's length was repeatedly reduced and recovered without increasing by growth duration, while it's diameter was gradually increased until September of harvest time. Top weight reached to the peak on July, and decreased gradually until harvest time. Root weight of 4, 5 and 6-year-old ginseng was decreased on May, but increased gradually until harvest time except 6-year-old ginseng decreased after July. Relative growth rate (RGR) of root per plant was low on May and August, but high on June, July, and September in 4, 5 and 6 year-old ginseng. RGR of 4 and 5-year-old ginseng in each lateral and fine root showed distinct changes by month, while those showed little seasonal changes in 6 year-old ginseng. Ratio of root above 60g on september was 23%, 60% and 69%, respectively, among 4, 5 and 6 year-old ginseng. Moisture content of root was gradually decreased until september without significant difference from July to september in 4, 5 and 6 year-old ginseng, and its descending order on september was 4, 5 and 6 year-old ginseng. Hardness of taproot was decreased on May, but increased until september in 4 and 5 year-old ginseng, while that of 6 year-old ginseng was gradually decreased from August to september. Extract content of 4, 5 and 6 year-old ginseng in taproot and lateral root was distinctly decreased from March to June, but gradually increased until September. Although extract content of March and May in 4 year-old ginseng on showed higher than that of 5 and 6 year-old ginseng, it of September didn't show significant difference among 4, 5 and 6 year-old ginseng.