BACKGROUND: Oenanthe javanica (Blume) DC., also known as water dropwort, is an aquatic plant species native to various regions across Asia. Despite its numerous health-promoting effects, research on improving its quality remains limited. The present study aimed to identify the optimal soil conditions required for high-quality water dropwort production. RESULTS: Fifty crop and soil samples from South Korean farms were analyzed for their functional content, soil chemical properties and plant tissue components. The results indicated that crop samples with lower functional components had higher soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable cations than those with higher functional components. High-quality crop samples exhibited neutral soil pH and low EC values, suggesting better nutrient availability for crop growth and reduced salt stress as a result of mineral accumulation in soil. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that soils affected by excessive salinity may create suboptimal soil conditions for water dropwort cultivation, potentially compromising crop quality. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.