• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.444-450
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• 2012

The physical and chemical properties of soil in the Mangyeong and Dongjin river basin had been investigated in order to establish the most optimum soil improvement plan on the reclaimed land. The total soil area by reclamation in Saemangeum basin is 113,971 ha. The classification by the distribution of soil series and soil texture is as following. 13 soil series including Chonnam, Buyong and Chonbuk series are period-unknown areas. Regarding the soil texture, they are fine silty ~ clayey very fine. From 1920s to 1960s, Mangyeong, Gwanghwal and Chonbuk series had coarse silty textured soil. After the 1970s, Mangyeong, Gwanghwal, Munpo, Yeompo, Poseung, Gapo and Hasa series have more sandy soil ~ moderately coarse loamy textured soil. Regarding the chemical properties, the concentrations of EC, Exch. $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$ and pH are high regardless of the time of reclamation. On the other hand, organic matter (OM) of top soil were 3.3~16.1 g $kg^{-1}$. The organic matter contents were very low though the soil had been farmed for a long time. Furthermore, the deep soil had almost no organic matter with 5.6~1.1 g $kg^{-1}$. The reason is believed that there had not been any movement of OM and clay because pressure or induced pans had been formed by large agricultural machineries and poor vertical drain. Regarding the forming of illuvial horizon (B layer) which tells the development extent of soil, only in the Hwapo reclaimed area where rice had been cultivated for past 90 years, Fe and Mn from top soil are deposited at underground 20~30 cm with 7~8 cm thickness by the movement of clay. It is believed that it had been possible because the earthiness is silty clay loam soil with relatively high content of clay. The soils are soil with concern of damage from sea water, soil on flimsy ground and sandy soil. Therefore, soil improvement for stable crop production can be expected; if the water table would be lowered by subsurface drainage, the water permeability would be enhanced by gypsum and organic matter, and the sandy soil would be replaced by red soil with high content of clay.