부산대학교 도서관

Detailed information on soil characteristics is of great importance for the use and conservation of soil resources that are essential for human welfare and ecosystem sustainability. Tis paper introduces soil inventory of Korea focusing on national soil database establishment, information systems, use, and future direction for natural resources management. Different scales of soil maps surveyed and soil test data collected by RDA(Rural Development Administration) were computerized to consturct digital soil maps and database. Soil chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations in agricultural soils including vulnerable agricultural soils were investigated rgularly at fixed sampling points. Internet based information systems for soil and agro-environmental resources were developed based on "National Soil Survey Projects" for managing soil resources and for poviding soil information to the public, and "Agro-environmental Change Monitoring Project" to monitor spatial and temporal changes of agricultural environment will be opened soon. Soils data has a great potential of further application in estimation of soil carbon storage, water capacity, and soil loss. Digital mapping of soil and environment using state-of-the-art and merging technologies with a pedometrics concept will lead to future direction.