Effect of growing media on the production of ginseng (Panax ginseng) in Central Otago, New Zealand

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a potential new crop for New Zealand. Under artificial shade, 1-year-old seedlings were grown in either peat- or soil-based media for 4 years. At the final harvest mean root fresh weight was 55 g/plant in the peat media and 40 g/plant in the soil media. Total gi nsenoside % of the 5-year-old roots was up to 6.9%. Macrochemical content ( N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca) and trace element (Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, B) content of roots at each harvest and of the leaves at the final harvest, were determined and compared with reported levels for P. ginseng and standards for P. quinquef olius. Botrytis cinerea was present on plant material throughout the experi ment, and there was evidence of predation by the scarab larvae of Costelytr a novae-zealandica in the first year. After 4 years of growth, 45% of the p lants in the soil media and 63% of plants in the peat-based media survived.