A Study on Soil Suitability Criteria for Adzuki Bean

Soil properties and yields of red been were investigated to establish soil suitability of Korean adzuki bean at 166 farms in Korea. The soil morphological and physical properties were investigated by 1:5,000 scale average yield of 2~3 years. The impact factors to the adzuki bean yields and soil properties were selected based on standard error of each factor. The yields of adzuki bean showed the greatest values when the morphology was alluvial plains, the drainage was well or moderately well, the slope was 2~7%, the texture was fine loamy, the gravel content was less than 15% and the available soil depth was more than 100 cm. Contribution factors of soil properties to the yields were 0.18 of morphology, 0.18 of drainage level, 0.23 of slope, 0.20 of texture, 0.11 of gravel content and 0.10 of available soil depth, respectively. Soil suitability levels were set as the best suitable land if score was greater than 90, suitable land if score ranged from 89 to 85, the possible land if the score ranged from 79 to 84 and low productive land if score was less than 78. According to the criteria 37.5% of the production area was the best suitable land, 29.4% was suitable land, 22.3% was possible land and 10.8% was low productive land. The best and suitable lands were total of 66.9% in Gyeongju, Gyeosangbuk-do.