A Comparison Study on the Survival Characteristics of Big Old Sophora japonica and Zelkova serrata Called ‘Goe’

Abstract

With the aim of accumulating data that can be used to infer the basis for the acculturation of trees called 'Goe,' this study aims to identify the survival status of the pagoda and zelkova trees known as 'Goe' trees by comparing and analyzing the status of pagoda trees (Sophora japonica) and zelkova tree (Zelkova serrata) designated as a protected tree in Korea. The results of this study are as follows; Zelkova serrata designated as a protected tree grows the most, with 2,147 trees (29.4%) in Cheonnam, followed by Chungnam (16.5%) and Gyeongbuk (14.4%). However, Sophora japonica showed a different result from zelkova Serrata as the total number of 210 Sophora japonica (55.7%) in Gyeongbuk and Daegu is much larger than that of zelkova Serrata. As a result, in the Yeongnam region, where the Confucianism of Yeongnam was actively practiced, the existence of Sophora japonica is much larger than that of the Zelkova Serrata, which is not a coincidence, and it is difficult to determine it only based on their flora and planting distribution. Results of comparing protected trees of Sophora japonica and Zelkova Serrata showed that the average age of Zelkova Serrata wass 289 years, while that of Sophora japonica was 302 years, and that the average height of Zelkova Serrata wass 18 m, which is higher than the height of 16 m of Sophora japonica. The average diameter at breast height of Zelkova Serrata was 398 cm and that of Sophora japonica was 314 cm, which indicates that Zelkova Serrata is relatively big. Therefore, it can be assumed that Zelkova Serrata has a larger growth potential than Sophora japonica, and the possibility of growth as a big tree is also high, but it seems that the explanation that "they are relatively long-lived" is not clearly determined.