• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.55-58
• /
• 2004

The objective of this study was to get information about water retention characteristics of horticultural substrates used in Korea determined by European standard method. Water retention curves were prepared at water volume (v/v, %) in relation to -10 cm, -50 cm, -100 cm water pressure head. Water retention curves showed different properties depending upon the type, the place of origin, particle size, and manufacturing processes of substrates. Peat and coir had easily available water content in the range of 30-40% and showed high water holding capacity, water buffering capacity, and aeration for plant growth. However, bark, sawdust and rice hull showed low water holding capacity about below 10%. The easily available water content of perlite and clay ball was low about 0.1-13.8%, whereas that of vermiculite and rockwool granulate was high about 25.9-52.0%. Understanding water retention characteristics of growing substrates is very important in cstablisliing optimum condition for plant growth. Further study on water retention curves for more substrates, mixture and growing media is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.109 no.2
• /
• pp.157-168
• /
• 2020

The sensitivity of forest soil to acidification in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was evaluated based on pH_H2O, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation (BS). Sensitivity to acidification was categorized into three grades: adequate level (AL, pH ≧ 4.2, CEC ≧ 15cmol/kg, BS ≧ 15%), caution level (CL, at least one indicator is below AL), and severe Level (SL, all three indicators are below AL). Soil samples were collected from the 65 stationary monitoring plots (40 × 40 ㎢), distributed throughout ROK. Only 19% of soil samples were classified as AL, while 66% and 15% were CL and SL, respectively. The median of pH_H2O, CEC, BS, and Ca/Al indicator in AL soils was pH 4.64, 20.7cmol/kg, 29%, and 6.3, respectively. Moreover, BC_ex (K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) and available phosphorus (AP) concentration compared with a threshold value and molar ratio of BC_ex and AP to total nitrogen (TN) was high. This indicates that AL soils have a good nutrient condition. The molar Ca/Al ratio, an indicator for toxicity of exchangeable aluminum (Al_ex), was more than 1, indicating no negative impact of Al_ex on plant growth. On the contrary, the median of pH_H2O, CEC, and BS in SL soils was pH 4.02, 13.2cmol/kg, and 10%, respectively. The Ca/Al index was less than 0.6, which indicates that negative impacts of Al_ex on plants were high. Furthermore, both the concentration of BC_ex in SL soils and the BC_ex/TN ratio were the lowest among the three acidity degrees. This shows that SLsoils can be degraded by soil acidification compared with less acidic soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.335-343
• /
• 2002

Methods of bedsoil analysis were difficult to be applied universally because use and material of bedsoil are diverse from country to country. Korean Standard Methods for Bedsoil Analysis was developed to measure the water content, water retention, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Fifty-three samples for horticultural bedsoil and nine samples for paddy rice bedsoil in the current market were collected. Water content of bedsoil was determined using gravimetric method through $105^{\circ}C$ oven-dry for 16 hours, but different calculations between horticultural and paddy rice bedsoils were chosen according to different predominant component, plant residue or mineral. Water content percentage of horticultural bedsoil was calculated as [(weight of sample before oven-dry - weight of sample after oven-dry)/(weight of sample before oven-dry)]${\times}100$, while that of paddy rice bedsoil as [(weight of sample before oven-dry - weight of sample after oven-dry)/(weight of sample after oven-dry)]${\times}100$. Water retention was measured at water potential -0.5, -1, -3, -5, -7, -10 kPa by Sandbox method and saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured by constant head method using acryl cylinder (${\Phi}5cm{\times}L\;20cm$). By new 'Korean Standard Methods of Bedsoil Analysis', the average water content of horticultural bedsoil was obtained 46.34%(w/w) and that of paddy rice bedsoil 16.89%. For horticultural bedsoil, easily available water(EAW), water buffering capacity(WBC), and optimal matric potential(OMP) was estimated at 28.4%, 7.01%, and -5.60 kPa, respectively. Optimal moisture content was 44.41% and average saturated hydraulic conductivity for bedsoils was estimated at $28.4cm\;min^{-1}$.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2017

Humic acid was used soil amendment or functional fertilizer in Korean agriculture, and its cation exchangeable capacity was high enough to increase soil buffering from plant toxicant. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of humic acid powder (HA) on composting of livestock manure (LM) and of its application on growth of lettuce. Treatments were designed as follows; livestock manure compost (LM+sawdust+bark+castor meal; Control), control+0.1% HA (0.1% HA), control+0.5% HA (0.5% HA), control+1.0% HA (1.0% HA), control+3.0% HA (3.0% HA), and control+5.0% HA (5.0% HA). The changes of temperature, water content, organic matter content, total nitrogen and ratio of organic matter and nitrogen in HA treatments were similar to those of control. Although pH of 3.0% HA and 5.0% HA blending with HA and LM was lower than those of others, it unaffected by HA blending during composting. Humic acid content of HA treatments was increased by 1.7~4.4 folds than that of control. As compared with odor index, 3.0% HA and 5% HA were decreased than control for composting time. Application of 3.0% HA increased the dry weight of lettuce by about 7% than that of control.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.369-376
• /
• 2007

This experiment was carried out to investigate optimum conditions of coir-based substrates for the red pepper plug seedlings. Eleven different coir based substrates prepared by mixing of coir, vermiculite, rice hull, perlite, zeolite, mixed at different ratios were tested. The physical and chemical properties of the substrates were analyzed by the CEN (European committee for standardization) method. Fresh and dry weights of shoot and root, leaf area, root length, and T/R ratio (dry shoot weight/dry root weight) were determined at 55 days after sowing. The results showed that the growing media CRZ 8(coir:rice hull: vermiculite=8:1.9:0.1) and CVSZ 6(coir:silver vermiculite: zeolite=6:3.9:0.1) can successfully be used for pepper plug seedlings judging from dry weight and T/R ratio of the plug seedlings. The optimal range of total pore space, water volume, air volume, easily available water content and water buffering capacity of the coir-based growing substrates for pepper plug seedlings were in the range of 92~94%, 52~60%, 32~43%, 18~21%, and 0.9~8%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.392-399
• /
• 2007

This study was carried out to assess optimum conditions of peatmoss-based substrates for red pepper plug seedlings. Peatmoss-based substrates prepared by mixing of peatmoss with vermiculite, perlite, rice hull and zeolite at various mixing ratios were used for growing pepper plug seedlings. The physical and chemical properties of the peatmoss substrate were analyzed by the CEN(European committee for standardization) method. Fresh and dry weights (shoot, root), leaf area, root length and T/R ratio (dry shoot weight/dry root weight) were determined at 55 days after sowing. The results showed that the growing media PVSZ 6 (peatmoss:silver vermiculite: zeolite=6:3.9:0.1) and PVGZ 6 (peatmoss:gold vermiculite: zeolite=6:3.9:0.1) can successfully be used for red pepper plug seedlings judging from dry weight and T/R ratio of the plug seedlings. The optimal ranges of total pore space, water volume, air volume, easily available water content and water buffering capacity of the peatmoss based growing media for pepper plug seedlings were 87~93%, 52~71%, 20~41%, 10~37% and 0.6~10%, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2005

There have been large areas of soil contaminated with high levels of explosives. For this experimental work, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was tested as a representative explosive contaminant of concern in both aqueous and soil samples and its removal was evaluated using three different chemical treatment methods: 1) the classical Fenton reaction which utilizes hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and soluble iron at pH less than 3; 2) a modified Fenton reaction which utilizes chelating agents, $H_2O_2$, and soluble iron at pH 7; and 3) a Fenton-like process which utilizes iron minerals instead of soluble iron and $H_2O_2$, generating a hydroxyl radical. Using classic Fenton reaction, 93% of TNT was removed in 20 h at pH 3 (soil spiked with 300 mg/L of TNT, 3% $H_2O_2$ and 1mM Fe(III)), whereas 21% removed at pH 7. The modified Fenton reaction, using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), oxalate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), acetate and citrate as representative chelating agents, was tested with 3% $H_2O_2$ at pH 7 for 24 h. Results showed the TNT removal in the order of NTA, EDTA, oxalate, citrate and acetate, with the removal efficiency of 87%, 71%, 64%, 46%, and 37%, respectively, suggesting NTA as the most effective chelating agent. The Fenton-like reaction was performed with water contaminated with 100 mg/L TNT and soil contaminated with 300 mg/L TNT, respectively, using 3% $H_2O_2$ and such iron minerals as goethite, magnetite, and hematite. In the goethite-water system, 33% of TNT was removed at pH 3 whereas 28% removed at pH 7. In the magnetite-water system, 40% of TNT was removed at pH 3 whereas 36% removed at pH 7. In the hematite-water system, 40% of TNT was removed at pH 3 whereas 34% removed at pH 7. For further experiments combining the modified Fenton reaction with the Fenton-like reaction, NTA, EDTA, and oxalate were selected with the natural iron minerals, magnetite and hematite at pH 7, based on the results from the modified Fenton reaction. As results, in case magnetite was used, 79%, 59%, and 14% of TNT was removed when NTA, oxalate, and EDTA used, respectively, whereas 73%, 25%, and 19% removed in case of hematite, when NTA, oxalate, and EDTA used, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.336-342
• /
• 2012

Inorganic materials were commonly used as container media in domestic plant factories. Objective of this research was to secure the information in soil physical and chemical properties of inorganic materials such as vermiculites and perlites. To achieve this, 12 gold and silver vermiculites from China, Zimbabwe, and South Africa and 5 perlites from China were collected based on the marketing grades (MG) in particle sizes and analyzed for determination of their characteristics. The percentage of particles larger than $710{\mu}m$, in China perlite MG 3~5 mm, China silver vermiculites MG > 8 mm and MG 3~8 mm were 99.9%, 99.8%, and 99.7%, respectively, which were much higher than 28.4% in China gold vermiculite MG 0.3~1.0 mm, 14.0% in perlite MG < 1.0 mm, and 12.6% of Zimbabwe silver vermiculite MG < 1.0 mm. The container capacities of perlite MG < 1.0 mm and South Africa silver vermiculite MG 0.25~1.0 mm were 72.0% and 71.1%, respectively. The air space in China silver vermiculite MG 3~8 mm was 49.3% which was higher than other materials tested. However, the China gold and silver vermiculites MG 0.3~1 mm had 3.5% and 2.4% in air space indicating that possible problems could occur in soil aeration when they are used for container media. The percentage of easily available and buffering water of China gold vermiculite MG 0.3~1 mm and perlite MG < 1.0 mm were the highest among test materials. The ranges of pH and electrical conductivity were 6.36 to 10.7 and 0.032 to $0.393dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in vermiculites and 7.78 to 8.62 and 0.030 to $0.041dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in perlite, respectively. The cation exchange capacity of China silver vermiculite MG 0.3~1 mm were $14.7cmol{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ that was 10 times as high as $0.34cmol{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in perlite MG 1~2.5 mm. The vermiculites had the higher contents of exchangeable cations such as Ca, K, and Na, than those of perlites.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.299-307
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to obtain the basic data for selecting the cultivatable bioenergy crops through application of solidified sewage sludge in reclaimed lands. The experimental plots consisted of the mixing with solidified sewage sludge plot (SS50), the covering with solidified sewage sludge plot (SS100), and the original reclaimed land plot (ORL) on reclaimed land for the intended landfill in Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation (SLC). The growth of energy crops (Geodae-Uksae 1, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, and Phragmites australis) were investigated from May to October, 2010 in each experimental plot. The soil from ORL showed higher salinity with high contents of exchangeable $Na^+$ cation than that of SS50 and SS100. Soil properties on reclaimed land used in this study must be improved by increasing the buffering capacity of saline with the treatment of solidified sewage sludge due to the fact that the contents of organic matter (OM) in both of SS50 and SS100 were higher than that of the ORL. Thus the growth of energy crops cultivated in the solidified sewage sludge plots were better than in ORL. Geodae-Uksae 1 which showed an excellent adaptability on reclaimed land treated with the solidified sewage sludge has considerably higher biomass than those of other energy crops (M. sacchariflorus and P. australis). This study suggested that Geodae-Uksae 1 is the most suitable biomass feedstock crop for bioenergy productions, and the solidified sewage sludge may be possible to utilize as a soil cover materials for cultivation of bioenergy crops in reclaimed land.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.177-183
• /
• 2004

The discharge of waste nutrient solution from greenhouse to natural ecosystem leads to the accumulation of excess nutrients that results in contamination or eutrophication. There is a need to recycle the waste nutrient solution in order to prevent the environmental hazards. The amount and kind of nutrients in waste nutrient solution might be enough to grow photosynthetic microorganisms. Hence in the present study, we examined the growth and mass cultivation of cyanobacteria in the waste nutrient solution with an objective of removing N and P and concomitantly, its mass cultivation. Four photosynthetic filamentous cyanobacteria (Anabaena HA101, HA701 and Nostoc HN601, HN701) isolated from composts and soils of the Chungnam province were used as culture strains. Among the isolates, Nostoc HN601 performed faster growth rate and higher N and P uptake in the BG-II ($NO_3{^-}$) medium when compared to those of other cyanobacterial strains. Finally, the selected isolate was tested under optimum conditions (airflow at the rate of $1L\;min^{-1}$. in 15 L reactor, initial pH 8) in waste nutrient solution from tomato hydroponic in green house condition. Results showed to remove 100% phosphate from the waste nutrient solution in the tomato hydroponics recorded over a period of 7 days. The growth rate of Nostoc HN601 was $16mg\;Chl-a\;L^{-1}$ in the waste nutrient solution from tomato hydroponics with optimum condition, whereas growth rate of Nostoc HN601 was only $9.8mg\;Chl-a\;L^{-1}$ in BG-11 media. Nitrogen fixing capacity of Nostoc HN601 was $20.9nmol\;C_2H_4\;mg^{-1}\;Chl-a\;h^{-1}$ in N-free BG-11. The total nitrogen and total phosphate concentration of Nostoc HN601 were 63.3 mg N gram dry weight $(GDW)^{-1}$ and $19.1mg\;P\;GDW^{-1}$ respectively. Collectively, cyanobacterial mass production using waste nutrient solution under green house condition might be suitable for recycling and cleaning of waste nutrient solution from hydroponic culture system. Biomass of cyanobacteria, cultivated in waste nutrient solution, could be used as biofertilizer.