Linkage between Soil Quality and Soil Value Based on Soil Functions.

Soil quality is strongly related with physicochemical and biological properties of soil. In addition, high quality of soil needs to be conserved to maintain soil value. Main purpose of this research was to evaluate linkage between soil quality and soil value based on six soil functions: biomass production, water storage, carbon storage, pollutant purification, nutrient recycling, and biodiversity. Soil quality and soil value was assessed based on national database of soil properties. Soil quality was scored at the range of 0 and 1 according to pedo-transfer functions and soil value was estimated based on soil properties and economic methods for converting quantitative value to monetary value. Result showed that 2^nd and 3^rd grade are dominant for soil quality in Korea occupying 65% of the total distribution. Among six soil functions, biomass production and pollutant purification showed high quality while carbon storage and biodiversity low soil quality. Soil value was assessed based on combined information of quantitative estimation in soil and economic method. Estimated total soil value was approximately 1.2 trillion dollars and high value of soil was ordered nutrient recycling (1.0 trillion dollars) > pollutant remediation (71 billion dollars) > water storage (21 billion dollars) > carbon storage (17 billion dollars) > biomass production (14 billion dollars) > biodiversity (2 billion dollars). Based on soil quality and soil value estimation, soil conservation region will be determined for high quality soil and best management practice (BMP) will be suggested for the area where soil quality and value is low in Korea

Key words: Soil quality, Soil value, Soil function, Conservation, Best management practice

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