Background : Excessively high concentration of sodium ion causednutrient deficiency and significantly decrease growth. This study was carried out to determine the limiting concentration range of sodium ion in the soil of ginseng field.
Methods and Results : The growth of the ginseng cultivar Chunpoong reduced with increase in salinity, and the rate of growth reduction was higher in shoots than that of roots. Particularly, ginseng plants cultivated at high level of nitrate nitrogen or sodium may suffer delayed development and stunted growth. Chlorophyll damage occurred on the leaves of ginseng planted in relatively high levels (> 0.2 c㏖+/㎏) of sodium ion, as determined by the fluorescence reaction. The incidence of physiological disorder in ginseng cultivated at 249 sites was correlated with the concentration of sodium ion in the soils. About 74% of ginseng fields in which physiological disorders occurred had concentrations of sodium ion in soil greater than 0.2 c㏖+/㎏. In contrast, the concentration of sodium ions at 51 of 85 sites where no damage occurred was relatively (0.05 c㏖+/㎏- 0.15 c +/㎏).
Conclusions : The concentration of sodium ion in soil of ginseng fields can be classified into three levels optimum (≤ 0.15), permissible allowance (0.15 - 0.2) and excessive (> 0.2).

• 김장욱(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부) | Jang Uk Kim Corresponding Author
• 현동윤(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 기획조정과) | Dong Yun Hyun
• 김영창(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부) | Young Chang Kim
• 이정우(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부) | Jung Woo Lee
• 조익현(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부) | Ick Hyun Jo
• 김동휘(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부) | Dong Hwi Kim
• 김기홍(농촌진흥청 국립원예특작과학원 인삼특작부) | Kee Hong Kim
• 손재근(경북대학교 농업생명과학대학 응용생명과학부) | Jae Keun Sohn