쪽 두 품종, 나주재래종과 나람블루를 사용하여 높은 생엽수량 및 색소함량을 얻기 위한 적정한 이식시기와 수확시기를 알아보고자 수행한 재배시험 결과, 대체적으로 두 품종 모두 비슷한 경향을 나타냈다. 이식시기가 늦을수록 생엽수량은 감소하는 경향을 보였으며, 이식시기 시험구간 다소 차이가 있었지만 니람이나 색소함량은 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 수확시기가 늦어질수록 초장, 분지수, 생엽수량은 증가하는 경향을 보였지만, 니람함량은 8월 20일까지 증가하다가 이후 정체하거나 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 수확시기에 따른 인디고 함량 변화는 8월 5일에 가장 높은 함량을 보였고 이후 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 따라서 쪽 재배에서 높은 생엽수량과 색소함량을 얻기 위해서는 가능한 이르게 이식하는 것이 좋으며 8월 초순경에 수확하는 것이 유리한 것으로 판단되었다.
This study was conducted to determinate the optimum times of transplanting and harvest for enhancing the fresh leaf yield and colorant level of an indigo crop, Persicaria tinctoria H. Gross, containing the blue dye indigo. Two cultivars, Naju Local and a new cultivar, NaramBlue, were transplanted 5 times from May 30 to July 10 at an interval of 10 days, and all of experiment plots harvested on Aug. 23 in Muan, the south area of Korea. As transplanting time was delayed, fresh leaf yield were maximum at earliest transplanting (May 30) and then decreased, while Niram (blue dye extract) and indigo content of fresh leaf remained almost constant though showed a small variation. Also, two cultivars transplanted on May 23 were harvested 5 times from Jul. 20 to Sept. 20 at an interval of 15 days. As harvest time was delayed, plant height, No. of first branches, and fresh leaf yield changed increasingly, while Niram content was increased to Aug. 20 and then decreased slightly. Indigo level increased largely to Aug. 5, and then continuously decreased with more delayed harvest. These tendencies of changes in fresh leaf yield and colorant level with different transplanting and harvest times were shown similarly in both cultivars. The results indicate that early transplanting before May 30 and harvest in early August will be appropriate for improving fresh leaf yield and colorant level.
