• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2014

This research was conducted to establish appropriate methods to prune tomato side stems during summer. Cherry tomatoes "Unicorn" (Monsanto Korea, Korea) were grown in the coir based growing medium, and irrigation was controlled time based system. There were three pruning treatments: 1) removing all side stems (ACUT), 2) remaining two leaves on the side stems right below any cluster (PCUT), and 3) remaining two leaves on all side stems (LEFT). Experimental results showed that the occurrence of swollen stems, a symptom of nutrient excess, was influenced by side stem pruning due to blocking of consumption of photosynthetic products. The photosynthetic rate was not different between leaves on main stem and those on side shoots. Therefore the differences in the total amounts of photosynthetic products seemed to come out from the differences in leaf areas on each treatments, influencing on fruit yield difference. The yields and harvesting rates were better in ACUT treatment when tomato plants were harvested until $5^{th}$ cluster, however tomato yield was higher in LEFT treatment when more then $5^{th}$ clusters were harvested.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.338-341
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• 2001

A new passive nutrient supplying system (PNS) was designed. The experiment was conducted to compare PNS with automatic hydroponic system (AHS) by investigating the growth characteristics of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) in spring and summer. No significant differences in growth characteristics of leaf area and shoot dry weight were observed between PNS and AHS. However, better netting of melon fruit was shown in PNS. Sugar content of melon fruit was also $1.0-2.0Brix^{\circ}$ higher in PNS than in AHS. The suitable substrate for melon culture with PNS was the mixture of perlite 70% and rice hull 30%. These results suggested that new PNS could be introduced to growers without any loss of fruit yield and quality of muskmelon.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2014

We analyzed drainage water from coir substrate in which cucumber plants were grown in winter and elucidated changes in pH, EC, and major nutrients according to the growth stages to recommend nutrient solution management appropriate to each growth stage. From the analysis of drainage solution the growth stages of cucumber were desirable to be divided into two, planting to fruit setting and fruit setting to harvest in case of nutrient solution management. The time required was about 3 weeks from planting to the first fruit setting and thereafter 7~10 days more until the first harvest. Approximately every 3~4 days were needed until the upper flowers bloomed. The time required from fruit setting to harvest was not different much among flowers as cucumber plants grew. From the experimental results, EC of supplied solution was recommended to maintain a little high to $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ until before fruit setting and lower a little to $2.0{\sim}2.3dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ after that. Of course, the amount of solution supply should be increased as plants grew. In case of each nutrients, the recommendation of concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium were 700, 60, and $110mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ each until before fruit setting, and then 660, 50, and $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ each after fruit setting. The concentrations of potassium and magnesium are recommended to start from 400 and $80mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ until fruit setting and lower a little after that.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 2013

Experiments were conducted to investigate the optimum concentration of nutrient solution for strawberry 'Maehyang' bred domestically for exportation in hydroponics. Nutrient solutions for strawberry, which was made by Yamazaki, were supplied electrical conductivity (EC) 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, and $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ after planting on cocopeat medium during the experiment period. Growth of shoot of strawberries did not show any statistical differences among treatments. Fruit length showed the longest in EC 0.8 and $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, followed by 0.6 and $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in the first and third cluster. It showed the shortest in EC $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in the second cluster but there were no significant differences among treatments in the fourth cluster. Fruit diameter did not show significant differences among treatments in the first and second cluster but was the longest in the lowest concentration EC $0.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in the third cluster. The shortest was in EC $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in the fourth cluster. The heaviest mean fruit weight appeared in EC 0.8 and $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, and the lightest was in EC $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in the first cluster and also lightest in EC $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ but no significant differences was found among other treatments in the second & third cluster. Also the fruit weight was significantly light in plants grown in EC $1.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ than $0.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in the fourth cluster. Soluble solids content of fruit was the highest in EC $0.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in all cluster. As a result, we came to the conclusion that the optimum EC for strawberry 'Maehyang' was EC 0.8 - $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ during low temperature season. This result will be utilized as an indicator for strawberry hydroponics.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Individual ion concentrations and ionic contributions to EC reading in the circulated nutrient solution are the important factors to be considered for stable EC-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to determine appropriate ion-analysis intervals of the circulated nutrient solutions based on ion concentration, ion balance, and ion electrical conductivity under different renewal intervals in EC-based nutrient control systems for sweet peppers (Capsicum annum L. 'Fiesta') in early growth stage. Average node numbers of the plants were 13 and 18 when the experiment started and finished, respectively, and three plants were grown in each rockwool slab. Four different renewal intervals of circulated nutrient solutions such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were used as treatment. Nutrient solutions were supplied to the plants based on integrated radiation. Drainage was collected into drain tanks after irrigation ended in the day and then mixed with fresh water until the EC reaches 2.69 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The replenished nutrient solution was supplied to the plants in the next day. Ion concentrations of the individual ions periodically analyzed in the circulated nutrient solutions showed no significant differences among the treatments during the experimental period. Ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, and $Cl^-$ varied within 5-8, 11-14, 2.0-2.7, 0.5-0.6, 14-19, 4-5, 1-4, and 0.3-0.5 $meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance showed a consistent tendency over all the treatments and especially $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ : ${PO_4}^{3-}$ played great roles in the cation and anion balances in the nutrient solutions, respectively. Activity coefficients of ions such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ varied within 0.8-0.9 and those of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ varied within 0.5-0.6, showing little changes with time. Ionic contributions of $K^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$ to EC reading were the greatest followed by $Ca^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ in the order. From the results, we thought that allowable ranges in ion concentration, ion balance, and subsequent individual ionic contributions to EC reading would be obtained within 4-week renewal interval of nutrient solution in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants.