Reductions of Particulate Matters Emission by Soil Surface Management of Potato-Cultivated Fields in Saemangeum Reclaimed Land

Concerns on fine dust originated from agricultural lands such as reclaimed tidelands located in the western coastal area of South Korea is increasing. Saemangeum reclaimed land (RTL), which is located in the western coastal area, is inherently susceptible to windblown dust due to the strong westerly winds and relatively flat terrain with few hills or mountains. In addition, Saemangeum RTL has a low organic matter content (<5%) and thus the soils are also susceptible to wind erosion. Therefore, agricultural measures, such as soil surface cover, to reduce wind erosion at the agricultural soils of the RTL need to be implemented. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soil surface managements on the reduction of particulate matter emissions during the cultivation of spring and fall potatoes (superior) in Saemangeum RTL in 2020. Three treatments were established: control (no surface cover), vinyl mulching cover, and rice straw + vinyl mulching cover. The results showed that vinyl mulching alone was more effective in reducing fine dust emissions than that with vinyl mulching + rice straw cover, probably indicating rice straw can be a fine dust source as rice straw is likely to decompose on the soil surface. The ion composition of fine dust indicated that Na+ is the dominant ion species that is contrast to that from urban areas, which NH4+ is dominant. This study presents a possible reduction of fine dust emissions by using vinyl mulching in the Saemangeum RTL. Further research is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of the increased fine dust emission by rice straw cover.Concentrations of ion composition in (a) particulate matter (PM) 10 by vinyl mulching and vinyl mulching combined with rice straw cover during spring potatoes growth period, (b) PM 2.5 by vinyl mulching and vinyl mulching combined with rice straw cover during spring potatoes growth period, (c) PM 10 by vinyl mulching and vinyl mulching combined with rice straw cover during spring potatoes growth period, and (d) PM 2.5 by vinyl mulching and vinyl mulching combined with rice straw cover during spring potatoes growth period in RDA National Institute of Crop Science research site.