Growth characteristics and yield of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) by irrigation set point in rain shelter house

Ginseng is used a worldwide well-known traditional herb. Recently, it has been reported that ginseng cultivation using rain shelter house can save workforce and reduce natural disaster damage compared with traditional shading structure. Especially, ginseng cultivation using rain shelter house is recognized more advantageous in northern region of Korea than southern region due to temperature. This study was conducted to investigate the growth characteristics and yield of ginseng by irrigation set point using rain shelter house in the northern region of Korea (Gangwon province). In order to compare the effect of irrigation set point on ginseng growth in rain shelter house, we measured growth characteristics and yield of 4 years old ginseng. Shading material of plastic film house was polyethylene film with two layered polyethylene net (PEF+PEN) 75% and the types of irrigation set point were 20, 30 and 40kPa. As a result, the average value of the raw weight of ginseng root was 66.8 g per root, and the yield of ginseng root was 3.61 kg per 1.67 m² at 20 kPa (Table). At the point of 20kPa, the yield of ginseng root was the highest among the three set points and the miss-plated rate was the lowest. The order of tap root diameter and profit by irrigation set point was 20kPa> 30kPa> 40kPa. We concluded that the 20kPa could be a good irrigation set point of rain shelter house for 4-year-old ginseng cultivation in northern region of Korea.

Tab. 1: Growth characteristics and yield of ginseng according to the irrigation set point

Irrigation set point (kPa)	Miss-plated rate (%)	Root length (cm)	Tap root diameter (mm)	Fresh weight (g/root)	Root yield (kg/1.62 m2)	profit (Won/1.62 m2)
20	4.3 ± 3.57	33.6 ± 4.29	27.3 ± 2.58	66.8 ± 16.4	3.61 ± 0.14	104.724
30	4.8 ± 2.06	31.2 ± 3.97	25.2 ± 1.59	61.5 ± 20.1	3.13 ± 0.12	90,569
40	6.7 ± 4.12	33.3 ± 5.65	25.7 ± 3.58	60.9 ± 19.7	2.92 ± 0.30	84,544