• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.236-244
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• 1999

A feasibility study was performed to examine the agronomic application of treated sewage on paddy rice culture by field experiment. The domestic sewage was treated by the constructed wetland system which was in subsurface flow type and consisted of sand and macrophyte. The effluent of the wetland system was adjusted to maintain the total nitrogen concentration below $25mgL^{-1}$ and used for irrigation water. Four treatments include (1) irrigation of treated sewage after concentration adjusted with conventional fertilization (TWCF), (2) irrigation of treated sewage after concentration adjusted with half of the conventional fertilization (TWHF), (3) irrigation of treated sewage after concentration adjusted without fertilization (TWNF), and (4) irrigation of treated sewage as it was without fertilization (SWNF). These cases were compared to the control case of tap water irrigation with conventional fertilization (Control). Generally, addition of the treated sewage to the irrigation water showed no adverse affect on paddy rice culture, and even improvement was noticed in both growth and yields. TWCF showed the best result and the yields exceed the Control in about 10%. Overall performance of the treatments was TWCF, Control, TWHF, TWNF, and SWNF in decreasing order. From this study, it appears that reuse of treated sewage as a supplemental irrigation water could be feasible and practical alternative for ultimate sewage disposal which often causes water quality problem to the receiving water body. For full scale application, further study is recommended on the specific guidelines of major water quality components and public health.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.154-162
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• 2001

This study was performed to examine the rice growth and nutrient change in paddy soil with reclaimed sewage irrigation. Total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the experimental system were analyzed before and after rice culture. The experiment lasted three consecutive years, and this paper presents results of the last year. Additional supply of nutrients to the rice culture by reclaimed sewage irrigation was significant and it increased the yield. Nutrient uptake by rice plant increased with more nutrient supplied, however. there was limit in plant uptake. Nutrient accumulation occurred in the soil and it was more apparent for the phosphorus where most of the remaining quantity was accumulated while substantial amount of nitrogen was lost during the growing season. This study suggested that additional nutrient supply by reclaimed sewage irrigation might be a supplemental benefit to the rice culture, and it can help the fertilization management. However, long term effects of continual reclaimed sewage irrigation should be assessed carefully including nutrient mass balance in the paddy rice culture system.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.66-75
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• 2000

Effect of reclaimed sewage on the paddy rice culture was examined by field experiment for two consecutive years. The domestic sewage was treated by the constructed wetland and the effluent of the treatment wetland was used for irrigation water. The reclaimed sewage was diluted before irrigation in the first year and it was used without dilution in the second year experiment. Growth components and yields were compared against the control plot where conventional method was applied. And also soil characteristics of the plots before and after reclaimed sewage irrigation were analyzed Generally addition of the reclaimed sewage irrigation didn't affect paddy rice culture adversely and even enhancement was observed. Fertilization was thought to be important factor for rice culture rather than irrigation water quality. Conventional fertilization and reclaimed sewage irrigation which contained high nutrient concentration resulted in better growth and more yield. Unlike widespread concern lodging did not happen even in the case of irrigation with average 90mg/L of T-N and conventional fertilization. Soil characteristics changed after irrigation and significant EC increasing was observed for the reclaimed sewage irrigation plots. From soil analyses salt accumulation could be a more potential problem than nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in the use of reclaimed sewage irrigation. Overall reclaimed sewage irrigation was thought to be one of practical alternatives for the ultimate disposal of sewage in rural area.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.44-54
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• 1999

Agricultural water quality standards were reviewed through rice culture using treated sewage irrigation . The seqage from school building of Konkuk University was treated by a constructed wetland system, and theeffluent of the systeml was irrigated for rice culutre after nutrient concentration adjusted by dilution. Average concentration of COD, SS, T-N and T-P in irrigated water was 22.3mg/$\ell$, 6.5mg/$\ell$, 25.8 mg/$\ell$and 2.2mg/$\ell$, respectively. Treatment include irrigation of adjusted effluent with conventional fertilization (TWCF), adjusted effluent with no fertilization (TWNF). and effluent of the wetland system as it was with no fertilization (SWNF). These treatment plots were compared with control plot irrigated by tap water with conventional fertilization (CONTROL). Other environmentals for rice culture were identical for all the plots. Among them, TWCF showed the best growth rate and the highest yield, and constituents in the harvested rice showed not much difference among them. Which implies that irrigation with relatively high nutrient concentration compared to the current water quality standards may cause no adverse effect on rice culture and could be even beneficial . Although T-N for this study was 25 times greater than the current standards, rice culture wasnot adversely affected by irrigatino water quality and even beeter results were observed than the CONTROL. It could be mistakenly that clean irrigation water produces better agricultural product, however, it is not necessarily true. Irrigation water with moderate nutrient concentration can enhance the plant growth, and better result might be expected. Therefore, peer review and modification if necessary are needed to the current agricultural water quality standards, especially for the nutrient components.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.94-104
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• 2001

A pilot study was performed at the experimental field of Konkuk University in Seoul, to examine the feasibility of the constructed wetland system for sewage and the effect of treated sewage irrigation on the paddy rice culture and its soil characteristics. The constructed wetland performed well, in that effluent concentrations of pollutants were significantly lower than concentrations of the influent. Median removal efficiencies of BOD$_{5}$ was about 78% and slightly lower during winter. Removal efficiencies form TN and TP were approximately 48 and 21%, respectively, and relatively less effective than that of BOD$_{5}$. Irrigation of treated sewage to paddy rice culture did not affect adversely in both growth and yield of rice. Instead, plots of treated sewage irrigation showed up to 50% more yield in average than the control plot. It implies that treated sewage irrigation might be beneficial to rice culture rather than detrimental as long as it is treated adequately and used properly. Soil was sampled and analyzed before transplanting and after harvesting. pH was slightly increased due to irrigation water, but it may not be concerned as long as the treated sewage is within the normal range. EC was increased in first year but decreased in second year, therefore salts accumulation in the soil could be less concerned. OM and CES was slightly increased, which might be beneficial on growing plants. TN did not show apparent pattern. Available phosphorus was decreased after rice culture, but the quantity of phosphorus(TP-available phosphorus) was rather increased which implies that excessive phosphorus supply may result in phosphorus accumulation in the soil. Overall, the constructed wetland was thought to be an effective sewage treatment alternative, and treated sewage could be reused as a supplemental source of irrigation water for paddy rice culture without causing adverse effect as long as it is treated adequately and used properly. For full-scale application, further investigation should be followed on environmental risk assessment, tolerable water quality, and fraction of supplemental irrigation.ion.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.55-65
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• 2003

Pilot study was conducted to examine the effects of ponded-water depth and reclaimed wastewater irrigation on paddy rice culture. For the ponded-water depth effect, three treatments of shallow, traditional, and deep water depths were applied, and each treatment was triplicated. The irrigation water for the treatment pots was an effluent from constructed wetland system for sewage treatment, while the control pot was irrigated with tap water kept traditional ponded-water depth. Irrigation water quantity varied with ponded-water depth as expected and drainage water quantity also varied similarly, which implies that shallow irrigation might save irrigation water and also reduce environmental impacts on downstream water quality. Rice growth and production were not significantly affected by ponded-water depth within the experimental condition, instead there was an indication of increased production in shallow and deep ponded-water depths compared to the traditional practice. Raising drainage outlet to the adequate height in paddy dike might be beneficial to save water resources within the paddy field. There was no adverse effect observed in reclaimed wastewater irrigation on the rice production, and mean yield was even greater than the control pots with tap water irrigation although statistically not significant. Water-saving irrigation by shallow ponded-water depth, raising the outlet height in diked rice paddy fields, minimizing forced surface drainage by well-planned irrigation, and reclaimed wastewater irrigation are suggested to save water and protect water quality. However, deviation from traditional farming practices might affect rice growth in long term, and therefore, further investigations are recommended before full scale application.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

This study was objected to identify the effect on water quality and contamination by non-agricultural facilities in 'A' reservoir watershed located in OO city, Kyounggi-do, Korea. Ground- and stream water samples showed (Na+K)-Cl, Ca(Cl, SO$_4$) and Ca-Cl type in an illegally discharging area of sewage and a densely industrial area indicating water contamination. Stream water of an illegally discharging area of sewage had high COD, T-N and T-P. In this area, direct incoming of sewage into stream water was induced ground water system by well pumping, and it made a progress of ground water contaminations with those components. Groundwater of a densely industrial area showed high concentrations of T-N, NO$_3$N. From a nitrogen isotope analysis, stream water of an illegally discharging area of sewage has ${\delta}^{15}N-NO_3$values of 0.7%0 was strongly affected by nitrogen originated from agrochemicals, and a densely industrial area of 19.7%0 from septic system. Ground- and stream water of a livestock fanning area were contaminated with NH$_3$-N and Mn, which was affected by intensive livestock facilities. SAR-conductivity plot indicates the water does not pose either alkalinity or salinity hazard for irrigation. COD, T-N, T-P, NO$3$-N, NH$_3$N and Mn concentrations from contaminated areas were diminished by mixing with 'A' reservoir water. There were no water contaminations in silver towns, vacationlands around reservoir and golf links. Consequently, it should be made a plan of systematic managements for past and- present possible contaminants and sewage systems in preventing water contamination by non-agricultural facilities.