Land Suitability Evaluation for the Growth of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> Forest in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea

This study was conducted at eight different cities and counties of Gyeongnam province with the objective of evaluating the suitability of lands for the growth of Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) species. From each city and county seven to ten sites were systematically selected for the study based on the regional representation of the sample sites by considering south, east, west and north regions of the province. From the selected sites soil data was collected by removing the top fertile soil in order to avoid the influence of decomposed top organic materials on the top soil. Soil samples from each site were air dried and the necessary laboratory processes undertaken. Evaluation of physiochemical characteristics was conducted by analyzing the properties of soil with growth requirement of the species. Storie parametric and FAO land evaluation methods were adopted to evaluate the parameters which were identified as important for the growth of the species. Based on the total index resulted from the parametric evaluation, suitability class was defined by assigning classes of highly suitable, (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3) and non-suitable (S4). The results of the study revealed that two study city/county were moderately suitable and the rest were categorized under marginally suitable for the growth and productivity of the species but there was no site which was categorized as highly suitable and non-suitable. It was recommended to use more silvicultural management for the areas categorized under marginally suitable in order to enhance the productivity.