The Effect of Dredged Soil Improvement on Soil Chemical Conditions and Plant Growth at the Slope of Saemangeum Sea Dike

This study was conducted to determine the changes in soil chemical properties and the growth of seedling according to the different dredged soil improving methods at slope of Saemangeum sea dike. Undersea dredged soil was improved by five different methods. Seedlings of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, Chionanthus retusa, Celtis sinensis, and Pinus thunbergii were planted after 9 month of experience site installation, then soil pH, NaCl concentration in soil, soil organic matter (SOM), and survival rate and height of seedling was measured. Initial soil pH was highest in the control plot but it decreased to the similar level with other soil improving plots after 35 months. There were no differences in NaCl concentration between the control and soil improving plots, and it showed decreasing tendency during the study period. In the control plot, initial SOM was lowest among that of other plots during the study period. The survival rate of 36 months after planting of P. thunbergii was highest among the species. The gap of the tree growth of P. thunbergii between the control plot and the soil improving plots was small, however, other species showed relatively higher tree height in the soil improving plots than the control plots. Creation forest with P. thunbergii might be a cost effective afforestation in coastal reclaimed land since it rarely needs additional improvement of dredged soil.