Revised Soil Survey of Yangju City in Gyunggido

Recently, agricultural lands have decreased sharply, which was caused by huge housing site, urbanization, land consolidation, and road construction etc. In particular, Yangju city near Seoul city has the most severe land use change in Korea. Therefore, we analyzed changes of land use, soil properties, and soil information in order to provide the basic soil information and soil management practices in this city. The area of crop cultivated land in Korea (2015) reduced by 12,090 ha compared to ones from the previous year (2014). The paddy field decreased by 25,421 ha but, upland field increased by 13,331 ha. One of the reasons for the reduction of the paddy field was converting paddy field to upland (20,916 ha) > others (3,056) > building (2,571) > public facilities (847) > idle land (217). But, reasons for increase of upland field were switching paddy to upland (20,916 ha) > land developed (634). The main reason of converting paddy field to upland was changing from rice to more profitable speciality crops or pulses. The cropland area (paddy fields, upland, orchard) of Yangju city reduced by 1,412 ha (2015/2014). The ratio of cropland area in each city reduced by 22.9% dramatically compared 2015 to 1999. The paddy fields located in alluvial plains in Yangju city were changed into upland or green house. The drainage classes of soil have been deteriorated because the flows of water were intercepted by road construction and other disturbance to water flows. In particular, paddy fields have been changed to not only upland, orchard, greenhouse cultivation but also to fallow and soil dressing on paddy in Yangju city. To analyze result of soil survey of Yangju city, 858 soil codes (soil phases) were used and the area was 105.17ha. The number of soil series increased from 60 to 65, and that of soil phase increased from 105 to 124. The largest increased area was Noegog soil series. 125.7ha of Neogog soil series was incorporated from the existing Sachon, Yecheon and Eungog soil series. The soil suitability class of paddy field in Ogjung huge housing site of Yangju city was the 4th grade for 32.6% of the area. The soil suitability classes of upland were 2nd and 3rd grade for 72.4% of the area. Farm land with high quality should be conserved by related law.