Background : This study was conducted to investigate the effect of soluble silicate and germanium on the characteristics of soil and growth in ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) cultivated in blue-white plastic houses.
Methods and Results : Seedlings (n = 63 per 3.3 ㎡) of Korean ginseng cultivar were planted on April 10, 2015. Shading material of plastic house [8 m (W) × 3.5 m (H) × 50 m (L)] was blue-white vinyl. From May to September of each year, 1,000 times diluted sol. of germanium and silicate and these mixed solutions were drenched once a month. The chemical properties of the soil are as follows : pH, EC, organic content, and P2O5 of the soil were within the proper range, and the Mg content of the Ex-cations was lower than the standard value in 3 treatments except treatment of germanium 1,000 times. The total nitrogen content was 0.13 - 0.14%, which was higher than the optimum value. The number of soil microorganisms (Actinomycetes etc.) was higher in the treatment than in the non-treatment of inorganic components. The photosynthetic rate of ginseng leaves was 2.25 μmole CO2/㎡/s in the non-treatment and 2.91 to 3.17 μmole CO2/㎡/s in the inorganic treated. The growth characteristics of the aerial parts (leaf and stem) of the ginseng plants were generally better than that of non-treatment. Especially, in the treatment with silicate 1,000 times showed better growth, leaf area and leaf width growth. The growth of the underground part (root weight etc.) were also better than non-treatment. Specially, at 1,000 ppm treatment with soluble silicate, the root length and diameter were longer and the weight was was 72.2 g per plant. The ginsenoside content of each treatment is under analysis. The disease incidence (Alternaria panax etc.) rate was 20.1% in the untreated and 6.4% to 10.0% in the inorganic components treatment.
Conclusion : By soil drench of inorganic compononts such as soluble silicate in ginseng blue-white plastic house cultivation, the growth of the aerial and root parts in ginseng were more improved than non-treatment. There are a lot of soil microorganism and less disease.