Correlations among Soil Properties, Growth Characteristics, and Ginsenoside Contents in Wild-Simulated Ginseng with Different Ages

Wild-simulated ginseng (WSG) is naturally cultivated in forest environment without any artificial facilities or chemicals. Soil property is one of the major factors affecting the growth and active compound synthesis of vegetation. Therefore, growth characteristics and ginsenoside contents of WSG can be affected by soil properties of the cultivation field. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate correlations among soil properties, growth characteristics, and ginsenoside contents of WSG with different ages using Spearman’s coefficient analysis method. It was found that most of growth characteristics of WSG except for rhizome length were significantly increased in 7-year-old WSG for both the above-ground part and root part. Soil pH, and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg) of 13-year-old WSG cultivation site were significantly higher than those of 4-year-old WSG. However, available phosphate of 4-year-old WSG soil was higher than that of 13-year old WSG soil. Contents of ginsenosides of 4-year-old WSG were higher than those of 13-year-old WSG in the above-ground part. Otherwise, in the root part, contents of ginsenosides of 13-year-old WSG were higher than those of 4-year-old WSG. In correlation analysis, growth characteristics of 4-year-old WSG were correlated with more ginsenoside types. Correlations between soil properties and ginsenoside contents in leaves and roots of WSG with the same age also differed. These results suggest that soil properties play essential role in growth and ginsenoside synthesis of WSG. Based on results of this study, growth characteristics, soil properties, and ginsenoside contents of WSG in different WSG cultivation sites need to be further investigated to identify the most suitable cultivation site for WSG.