• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 2011

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of germination condition, nursery media and nutrient concentration in plant factory on the growth characteristics of pak-choi and lettuce seedlings. The results showed that temperature (15, 20, $25^{\circ}C$) and light conditions (lighting and no lighting) had no significant effect on germination rate of pak-choi and lettuce, whereas the interaction of growing media (rockwool and urethane sponge) and moisture management before and after sowing had significant effect on germination percentage. In case of no moisture management before and after sowing, germination percentage was much higher in rockwool medium than urethane sponge medium. But germination percentage of urethane sponge was higher than that of rockwool with applying moisture before and after sowing. At the nutrient concentration of EC $1.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ the fresh weight of pak-choi was heavier than in EC 1.5 and $0.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ by 1.8 and 6.0 times, respectively. At the nutrient concentration of EC $1.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ the fresh weight of lettuce was also heavier than in EC 1.5 and $0.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ by 1.7 and 3.5 times, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.302-306
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• 2005

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2011

Differences among cultivars, conditions of nutrient solution, nursing materials, and soilless culture systems were investigated to select suitable cultivar and cultivation methods for stable production of summer spinach in the highlands. The 'Quinto' spinach showed the earliest growth and highest yield. For yield increase of summer spinach, optimal solution pH was 6.0, EC was $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, and $NH_4-N$ ratio of nutrient solution was 30 percent Stand rate of spinach in nursing seedlings, at 200-cell-tray filled with mixed nursing soil (peat : perlite = 7 : 3), was higher than those grown in urethane sponge and rock-wool plug. Yield was also 18 to 24 percent higher than those in rock-wool plug and urethane sponge. Plant length and yield of spinach in mixed substrate (peat : perlite = 7 : 3) filled nutrient film technique (MSNFT) system were longer of 18 percent, and higher of 9 percent than those in deep flow technique (DFT) system, respectively. However, changes of root zone temperature, pH and EC showed similar pattern with DFT. Therefore, growing 'Quinto' cultivar at 6.0 of pH, $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ of EC, 30 percent of $NH_4-N$ ratio, at 200-cell-tray filled with mixed nursing soil, and MSNFT cultivation system, was the best for production of summer spinach in the highlands.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the germination and growth during seedling period of Codonopsis lanceolata and Astragalus membranaceus as affected by different media. The seeds were sown in commercial medium (Tosilee), coir, rockwool, and urethane sponge. The seeds were germinated for 22 days in a closed-type plant production system, and seedlings were grown for 35 days after sowing in the venlo-type glasshouse located on Gyeongsang National University. Nutrient solution was supplied by the sub-irrigation as EC $1.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH 6.5 every second day. Final germination of Codonopsis lanceolata was the significantly highest in the coir and rockwool media as 68.5% and 67.9%, respectively. Mean daily germination was also the highest in the coir and rockwool media as 4.2 and 4.1, respectively. The germination rate of Astragalus membranaceus was not significantly difference in the media types. Plant height and leaf area of Codonopsis lanceolata were the significantly highest in the rockwool medium as 11.5 cm and $11.3cm^2$, respectively. Longest root length and fresh weight of root were the greatest in the coir medium as 5.8 cm and 0.07 g, respectively. Plant height and leaf area of Astragalus membranaceus were the significantly highest in the coir medium as 14.0 cm and $16.9cm^2$, respectively, and fresh and dry weights of root were the highest in the urethane sponge medium as 0.34 g and 0.03 g, respectively. Therefore, these result suggest that the rockwool and coir media were suitable for the germination and growth during seedling period of Codonopsis lanceolata and Astraglus membranaceus.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2007

This study was carried out to develop the stable plug seedling production for hydroponics of spinaches by various nursery media, plug tray size and seed number per plug tray cell. When plant grown in various nursery media, the seeding stand rate was shown in order of granular rockwool with good water retention, granular rockwool>granular rockwool mixed with pearlite>cocopeat>pearlite>poly urethane foame. Thus, poly urethane foame indicated the lower seedling stand rate. There was no difference in growth of the seedlings md the seeding stand rate by the plug tray size, and no significant difference in the plant height and the number of leaves among the seed number per plug tray cell. But, leaf area of plant in 2 grains seeding per cell was $113.0cm^2$, was wider in compared with 5 grains seeding of which leaf area was $88.0cm^2$. Accordingly, the leaf area per plant decreased as more and more the number of seeds per plug tray cell increased. The fresh weight of a plant per plug tray cell was the heaviest with 12.5g in the 2 grains, and the total fresh weight of plants per cell was 33.9g in 4 grains seeding, thus it tended to was bigger compared with other treatments. Consequently, given that the number of seeds per cell was decreased, the fresh weight of a plant increased. On the other hand, the total fresh weight per cell showed a tendency to be reducing as more and more the number of seeds per plug tray cell decreased. The yield in the 4 grains seeding was increased by 46% as $14,910kg{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ in compared with the yield in 2 grains seeding as $10,200kg{\cdot}ha^{-1}$.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.271-274
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of composition of nutrient solution on the growth and quality of baby leaf vegetables (tat soi, romaine lettuce, beet, and red radish) hydroponically cultivated in plant factory. The seeds of four vegetable crops were sown in urethane sponges and cultivated for 14 days in a plant factory. Light intensity and photoperiod were $110{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and 16 h, respectively; and air temperature in photo/darkperiod was maintained at $25/20^{\circ}C$. Tap water was used for irrigation for 7 days after sowing, and then plants were irrigated for 7 days using tap water and the nutrient solutions of Korea Wonshi, Japan Enshi, and Yamazaki for lettuce. At 14 days after sowing, the fresh weight of tah soi was highest in the nutrient solution of Yamazaki for lettuce, and there were no significant differences among nutrient solutions in beet and red radish. When we compared leaf color using Hunter's a value, the nutrient solution of Korea Wonshi and Japan Enshi increased green color in baby leaf vegetables, while the nutrient solution of Yamazaki for lettuce increased red color. Total phenolic content of romaine lettuce was highest in the nutrient solution of Korea Wonshi, but tat soi, beet, and red radish showed no significant differences among nutrient solutions in total phenolic contents. From these results, we suggest that using the nutrient solution of Korea Wonshi can enhance the growth and quality of romaine lettuce and the nutrient solution of Yamazaki for lettuce is appropriate for enhancing the growth and red color of beet and red radish in plant factory.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2024

Among the various environmental conditions necessary for growing crops, light is closely related to the anthesis. This study aimed to determine the optimal photoperiod affecting floral differentiation in an edible flower, marigold, to efficiently cultivate the crops in a closed-type plant factory. The experiment was conducted with photoperiods of 4, 8, 12, and 16 hours. French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) 'Durango Red' seeds were sown in polyurethane sponges, and the photoperiod treatments were applied immediately. The extent of floral differentiation was examined at 2-3 day intervals, defined as the visible appearance of flower buds at least 2 mm in size. The growth parameters such as shoot fresh weight and dry weight, height, and leaf area were measured. The optimal photoperiod was determined based on the days when the floral differentiation had occurred in 50% of the total plants. In the 4-hour treatment, proper growth and flower buds did not appear. From the 8-hour treatment, the plant grew normally, and floral differentiation occurred, however, the 8-hour treatment showed the slowest floral differentiation compared to the 12 hours treatments or more. The 12- and 16-hour treatments didn't show significant differences in floral differentiation. While the 16-hour treatment exhibited the highest results in all growth parameters, it was not significantly different from the 12-hour treatment except for shoot dry weight and leaf area. According to the results, 8 hours of photoperiod induced floral differentiation. However, more time was required for flower bud formation, and plant growth was significantly lower compared to photoperiods of 12 hours or more. Considering the energy consumption and its growth, the optimal photoperiod for marigold was 12 hours.