The Korean Journal of Crop Science ISSN:0252-9777(Print) 2287-8432(Online) 한국작물학회지

This study was conducted to determine the sowing limit period and predict growth in the northern region based on accumulative temperature for each growth stage of soybean cultivated in the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula. First, the results of a demonstration test in the central region (Yeoncheon) of the Korean Peninsula were very similar to the predicted and actual values on the date by growth stage obtained through cultivation. This method was then applied to seven agricultural climatic zones in the northern Korean Peninsula. The results predicted that regardless of ecotype, soybean could be grown and harvested in the southern and northern parts of Mt. Suyang, south of the East Sea, and in the central and northern inland areas. However, it was predicted that no ecotype could be grown and harvested normally in the northern alpine region. Furthermore, north of the East Sea, the prediction indicated that early and mid-maturing cultivars could be grown and harvested normally, but middle-late maturing cultivars appeared to lack the number of growth days. The sowing limit period also varied depending on the ecotype, although it was reached earlier as higher latitudes were approached; the period ranged from May 16 to June 26 in the northern and southern parts of Mt. Suyang, north and south of the East Sea, and central and northern inland areas. Furthermore, all ecotypes of the northern alpine region, as well as mid-late maturing cultivars in the north of the East Sea, were predicted to be unable to grow normally owing to the lack of number of days required for soybean growth and development.