Types and Physicochemical Characteristics of the Nursery Media Used in Major Strawberry-Farming Regions
In Danseong-myeon (myeon is a subdivision of), Sancheong-gun, and Sugok-myeon, Jinju City, pot seedling culture was used at the rates of 100% and 62%, respectively. Root restriction seedling culture was used relatively more frequently than pot seedling culture in Yangchon-myeon, Nonsan City, Guryong-myeon, Buyeo-gun, and Wolsan-myeon, Damyang-gun. Open-field seedling culture was used at the rates of 80% and 54% in Samnangjin-eup (eup is a subdivision of a gun), Miryang City and Ssangnim-myeon, Goryeong-gun, respectively. In Danseong, Sancheong, and Sugok, Jinju, granite soil was used as the medium for pot seedling culture at the rates of 90% and 80%, respectively. In Yangchon, Nonsan, Wolsan, Damyang, and Ssangnim, Goryeong, commercial bed soil and coir dust were used for seedling culture at the rates of 73%, 64%, and 60%, respectively. At the main production sites, the use of granite soil for seedling culture, highest rate in 2000-2005, continued to decrease; in 2011-2013, granite soil was used at the rate of 37%, while commercial bed soil and coir dust were used at the rates of 32% and 14%, respectively. The bulk density of commercial bed soil, expanded rice hulls, and coir dust was 0.11-0.16 g/cm-3. Coir dust was the lightest material but had the highest and, 36.7% and 21.8%, respectively. In sandy loam soil and granite soil was low. The pH of all growth media was between 5.4 and 7.0, and the values were in the range of 0.15-0.66 dS·m-1. However it was necessary, to adjust the pH levels and enhance the of expanded rice hulls, sandy loam soil, and granite soil. Similarly, the fertilizer concentration and air permeability of coir dust need to be adjusted.