Evaluating Multi-Functionality of Soil and Estimating Economic Soil Value.

Evaluating Multi-functionality of Soil and Estimating Economic Soil Value

Jae E. Yang^1*, Sang Phil Lee¹, Seung Min Oh¹, Kyung Jae Lim², Young Kyu Hong³, Saet Byul Park³ and Sung Chul Kim³

1. Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, Korea

2. Department of Regional Infrastructural Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, Korea

3. Department of Bio Environmental Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 305-764, Korea

    

Estimating soil value is a complex process and researchers need to consider not only environmental aspect but also economic methodology to measure soil value. In addition, policy makers have interested in considering soil value to regulate soil conservation law. This research was conducted to estimate soil value incorporated with soil function and economic methodology. Selected representative soil function was biomass production, pollution control (filtering and buffering), water storage, atmospheric cooling, carbon storage, and biodiversity. In order to determine value of each soil function, national wide soil database such as soil pH, electro conductivity (EC), soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available phosphorus, and soil texture was utilized. In addition, each function was economically assessed as direct and indirect use value. For assessing non-use value of soil, contingent valuation method (CVM) was applied through electric survey. Finally, total soil value was summed by use value and non-use value of soil. Estimated total soil value was about over 33 billion dollars and the highest measured soil value was based on soil function of pollution control (about 22 billion dollars) followed by atmospheric cooling function (about 5.5 billion dollars). In conclusion, estimated soil value through this research could be utilized to overview national wide soil value in Korea. However, more detailed research should be conducted to use soil value for integrating with regulation law.

Key words: Soil value, Database, Soil function, Conservation, Law

*Corresponding author: Jae E. Yang, yangjay@kangwon.ac.kr, Tel:+82-33-250-6446