• 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.28 no.3
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• pp.185-196
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• 2019

Abstract. This research was conducted to figure out the optimal size of the plug cell and seedling raising period in 'Nongwoo' and 'Nonghyeop' cultivars. In the first experiment on effect of plug cell size on growth of squash, seedlings were transplanted into hydroponic cultivation beds at different growing stages: Those in 32-cell trays with 3-4 true leaves at 25 days after sowing, those in 50-cell trays with 2 true leaves at 15 days after sowing, those in 105-cell trays just before a true leaf development, and those in 162-cell trays with only cotyledons at 8 days after sowing. In the second experiment on effect of seedling raising period on growth of squash, it was conducted to have different sowing dates. But the same transplanting date, based on the results of Experiment 1, and compared the differences in growth and fruit productivity as affected by plug cell size in the same way with experiment 1 including the cultivars and environmental conditions. After setting the transplanting date in advance, the number of days for sowing were calculated back for each treatment. In the first experiment, plant height was the greatest in 105-cell trays followed by 162, 50 and 32-cell trays in both cultivars. The best fruit quality was found in different treatments depending on the cultivars, although it was the lowest in 32-cell trays in both cultivars. The fruit quality was not significantly different among those from cell sizes. Therefore, when raising seedlings in 105-cell trays, the period of raising seedlings can be shortened as compared with the conventional 32-cell trays, and this change could reduce the workforce required for growing and transplanting seedlings. In the second experiment, after transplanting, shoot height and leaf width in the first measurement in both cultivars were greater in the 32-cell treatment. However, the last measurement after four weeks showed no significant difference in plant height, but significantly greatest leaf width in the smallest cell treatment, even as compared with that in 32-cell treatment. In case of 'Nongwoo', length and weight of the first harvested fruit showed the highest values in the treatment of 105-cell trays. In case of 'Nonghyeop' the 162-cell treatment along with the 105-cell treatment showed greatest length and weight of the first fruits. From these results, zucchini plug seedlings can be raised in plug trays with reduced cell sizes than the conventional 32-cell trays with improved fruit productivity.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.152-159
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• 2003

This study was conducted to analyze the water consumption in closed transplants production system (CTPS) for the production of quality transplants and to investigate the effect of relative humidity on the water balance in CTPS. Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dejima) plug seedlings were grown for 15 days at air temperature of 20$^{\circ}C$, relative humidity of 70%, photoperiod of 16/8 h, and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 200 ${\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-l}$ following rooting for 5 days in CTPS. Amount of humidified, dehumidified, irrigated and evapotranspirated water were 67.9 kg${\cdot}m^{-2},\;196.9{\cdot}m^{-2},\;44.3\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2},\;33.5\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. Water content of media and plants were 1.2 kg${\cdot}m^{-2},\;6.9\;kg{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. Three relative humidity levels of 60, 70, and 80% were provided to analyze the effect of humidity on the water balance in CTPS. Amount of humidified, dehumidified, irrigated, evapotranspiratad water and water contents of media and plants increased with increasing relative humidity. Since the water consumption required to produce plug seedlings in CTPS dec1eased with decreasing relative humidity, the available water utilization efficiency of CTPS increased with decreasing relative humidity. CTPS showed high available water utilization efficiency of 0.92 - 0.97 if dehumidified water in CTPS was recycled. The development of CTPS with recycling system of dehumidified water will not only reduce the water consuming for the production of transplants but contribute to the establishment of plant production economizing in water consumption.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2009

This study was conducted to analyze the feasibility of plant growth under low pressure and to investigate the effect of pressure on plant growth. Three levels of pressures (25, 50, and 101.3 kPa (control)) were provided to analyze the growth of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as affected by low pressure. Photoperiod, air temperature, and photosynthetic photon flux were set at 16/8 h, 26/$18^{\circ}C$, and $240{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}s^{-1}$, respectively. Growth characteristics of lettuce were measured on 7 days and 14 days after experiment. Leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and root dry weight of lettuce measured on 7 days under 25 and 50 kPa were significant as compared to the control. Leaf length, top dry matter and root dry matter of lettuce measured on 14 days were significantly different under 25 and 50 kPa. From these results, we confirmed that lettuce could be grown under low pressure. However high relative humidity by evapotranspiration from leaves and growing beds under low pressure caused the condensation on the inner surface of the chamber. Therefore in a low pressure chamber, humidity control is required to maintain the relative humidity at a proper level.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.508-512
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• 2000

Growth of red pepper (Capsicum annuum) 'Kumtap', tomato (Lycoperisocon esculentum) 'Seokwang', petunia (Petunia hybrida) 'Madness Rose', and pansy (Viola tricolor) 'Magestic Giant' in mixtures of chestnut woodchips and granular rockwool at 25:75, 50:50, or 75:25 (v/v) was examined. Chestnut woodchips were soaked in water for 48 hours or aged in open field for 6 months in order to remove substances impeding plant growth. A commercial plug medium was used as the control. All treatments showed in a similar result in red pepper, petunia, and pansy. Plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, and chlorophyll content in media containing chestnut woodchips, especially in higher proportions, were poorer as compared to those in the control. On the contrary, height, fresh weight, and dry weight of tomato seedlings in media containing woodchips were significantly higher than those in the control. For petunia, pansy, and red pepper, six month ageing in open field of woodchips was more favorable for growth than 48 hour water soaking. Emergance of petunia seed was inferior, especially when woodchip content was higher, to the other crops with a resultant growth suppression. From the results, chestnut woodchips proved to be a practical material as a medium component only in tomato plants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2020

Recently, it is difficult to produce uniform scions and rootstocks with high quality in a greenhouse due to weather extremes. The closed transplant production system is useful for producing scions and rootstocks with desirable morphological characteristics by environment control regardless of weather outside. In this study, we investigated transpiration rates and growth of cucumber and tomato scions and rootstocks grown under different light intensity conditions for precise irrigation control in a closed transplant production system. Hanging system to measure continuously the weight of plug tray consisting of seedlings and substrate with load-cell was installed in each growing bed. Using this system, we confirmed initial wilting point of cucumber and tomato seedlings, and conducted subirrigation when moisture content of substrate was not below 50%. The irrigation time of cucumber scions and rootstocks were 7 and 6 days after sowing, respectively. In tomato scions and rootstocks grown under PPF (photosynthetic photon flux) 300 μmol·m^-2·s^-1, the irrigation time were 5, 8, 11, and 13 days after sowing. Increasing light intensity increased transpiration rates and differences of transpiration rates by light intensity was higher in tomato seedlings. The growth of cucumber and tomato seedlings was promoted by increasing light intensity, especially, hypocotyl elongation and stem thickening was affected by light intensity. Cumulative transpiration rate of plug tray in cucumber and tomato seedlings was increased by increasing light intensity, and daily transpiration rate per seedling was regressed by 1st-order linear equation with high correlation coefficient. Estimation of transpiration rates by weighing continuously plug tray of vegetable seedlings can be useful to control more accurately irrigation schedule in a closed transplant production system.