Rising Demand for Potting Soil… Lack of Product Information
Causes Difficulties in Producing High-Quality Seedlings.
Farmers Say, “Additional Standards for Water Retention and Drainage Are Needed.”
Experts Recommend Using Products Registered with Local Governments, Advising,
“Purchases Must Be Purchased After Checking the Producer’s Guarantee Label.”
In early May, a strawberry farmer in Cheonan City was cultivating seedlings using potting soil. Recently, due to labor shortages and the revitalization of the high-quality greenhouse horticulture industry, the demand and supply of seedling potting soil produced by professional producers have been continuously increasing. However, farmers argue that more detailed standards, such as water retention and drainage capabilities, need to be established for potting soil. This implies that potting soil is linked to crop quality, and that the precise characteristics of the soil must be understood for quality control. Currently, potting soil is managed under the Fertilizer Management Act; it is broadly divided into rice paddy use (Potting Soil No. 1) and horticultural use (Potting Soil No. 2), and is used only after registration with the local government. Furthermore, in accordance with the establishment and designation of fertilizer standard specifications by the Rural Development Administration, from the producer’s guarantee label at the bottom of the back of the packaging... 

 

The following information must be specified : registration number, fertilizer type and name, actual weight and volume, guaranteed nutrient content, raw material name and mixing ratio, production date, warranty period, location of the manufacturing plant, and usage instructions and

precautions.


Currently, while the Rural Development Administration's fertilizer standardization and designation include criteria for soil density and harmful substances, there are no standards regarding physical properties such as water retention and drainage.

Furthermore, farmers state that since horticultural crops are diverse and mixing ratios vary by product, they can only determine water retention and drainage capabilities through direct testing.


A strawberry farmer in Nonsan remarked, "The more information farmers have about agricultural materials, the more helpful it is for farming. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have standards regarding the water retention and drainage capabilities of soil.

Young seedlings have low water evaporation rates, so they need to use products with high drainage and moderate water retention." He added, "If standards for water retention and drainage are established considering a margin of error and

manufacturers label them on their products, it would be of great help to farmers in selecting soil."


On the other hand, a strawberry farmer in Hwaseong City stated, “Since using the wrong potting soil can ruin an entire year’s harvest, when purchasing, we check not only the content of coco peat or peat moss but also EC (electrical conductivity) and pH (hydrogen ion concentration).” He added,

“We estimate water retention and drainage capacity based on the mixing ratio of the raw materials. However, if standards for water retention and drainage capacity were established and applied for each crop, production costs for manufacturers would increase, which would ultimately become a burden for farmers.”


In response, an official from the Rural Development Administration said, “Potting soil contains various raw materials and differs in nature. Furthermore, since mixing ratios vary by manufacturer, it is currently difficult to establish standards for water retention and drainage capacity for horticultural soils based on specific crops.”


Additionally, farmers point out the sale of products in the market without a ‘producer’s guarantee label’ as a problem. In fact, one product labeled as a cultivation soil specifically for strawberries was found to contain 20–70% perlite and 30–80% coco peat.


A farmer in Nonsan stated, “When growing seedlings, selecting a good variety and choosing the right potting soil are extremely important. Although the product I saw was labeled as ‘strawberry-specific potting soil,’ the ingredient list was broad, and since it

lacked a manufacturer’s guarantee label, I could not trust it.” He added, “I am not sure if releasing such a product on the market complies with regulations, but if a controversy regarding defects arises after using this soil, ultimately, only the farmers will suffer the consequences.”


In response, an official from the potting soil industry said, “Generally, products registered with the Potting Soil Association display a manufacturer’s guarantee label.

To ensure farmers select potting soil that meets regulations and avoid potential damage from defects, they must check the guarantee label on the back of the product.” He continued, “If a product lacks a guarantee label and is released under the name ‘potting soil,’ it may not be registered with the local government or

may not be potting soil specifically distributed for cultivation. Even if the intended use is the same, potting soil follows quality control and standards under the Fertilizer Management Act, whereas potting soil is not subject to the same Act, so consumers must exercise caution when purchasing.”