Characteristics of the Inorganic Element Contents or the Korean Ginsengs from Various Soils of Keumsan

Abstract

: Geochemical relationships between ginsengs and soils from three representative soil types, shale, phyllite and granite regions, from Keumsan were examined. High elements were shown at the granite and shale areas of the weathered soils, the phyllite areas of the cultivated soils and the shale areas of the host rocks. Tl was enriched in ginsengs grown in the shale areas, Cs and B in the phyllite areas, and Be and Cd in the granite areas. Positive correlations were dominated by the shale areas. These relationships can be explained for mineral characteristics within the soils, and their behaviors related to the physio-chemical conditions. High elements were shown in the 2 year ginsengs of the shale areas, and 4 year ginsengs of the phyllite and granite areas in comparisons with ginsengs of the different ages from the same areas. These differences can be explained with ages of the ginsengs, solubilities of the minerals and physio-chemical differences within soils. The content differences of high elements such as Cs, Tl and Be were found between soils and ginsengs. Overall, these results suggest that components of ginsengs grown in the granite areas are chemically similar to the soils.