• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2005

This study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between the aboveground vegetation structure and fine roots of the topsoil (<15m), and thereafter to obtain the regression models for the estimation of the fine roots of the topsoil using the aboveground vegetation values in the burned forest areas, Korea. The FRT (fine roots of the top soil) as well as the aboveground vegetation structure showed spatial variation in the earlier successional stages after forest fire. The fine roots (<2 mm) of the topsoil in the earlier successional stages than the first 3 year after forest fire showed the range from 3 to 166 g $DM/m^2$. The FRT in the naturally regenerated sites and planted sites after forest fire was closely correlated with the vegetation indices, especially lvc, representing the development status of the aboveground vegetation. The FRT in the terrace seeding work sites after forest fire was closely correlated with year elapsed after terrace seeding work. The FRT in the terrace seeding work sites showed the much higher values because of the vigorous growth of grass species than the other sites. In the naturally regenerated sites, the FRT showed the parabola form according to the increment of aboveground vegetation value (Ivc). Although the aboveground vegetation value (Ivc) showed a tendency to increase logarithmically during the secondary succession after forest fire, the estimated fine roots of the topsoil was depicted the parabola form showing the gradual increment until the first 15 years and slight decrease thereafter. Decrease of FRT in the later successional stage showing the high vegetation value may be caused by increment of the woody species contribution to the vegetation value (Ivc). Our results represented that the aboveground vegetation value (Ivc) can be used to the estimation of the fine roots of the topsoil in burned forest areas.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 2023

Forest fires increase the risk of subsequent soil erosion and mass movement in burned areas, even under rainfall conditions below landslide alert thresholds, by destroying plants and vegetation and causing changes to soil properties. These effects of forest fires can alter runoff in burned areas by altering soil composition, component minerals, soil water repellency, soil mass stability, and soil fabric. Heat from forest fires not only burns shallow organic matter and plants but also spreads below the surface, affecting soil constituents including minerals. This study analyzed X-ray diffraction and physical properties of topsoil and subsoil obtained from both burned and non-burned areas to identify the composition and distribution of clay minerals in the soil. Small amounts of mullite, analcite, and hematite were identified in burned soils. Vermiculite and mixed-layer illite/vermiculite (I/V) were found in topsoil samples from burned areas but not in those from non-burned areas. These findings show changes in soil mineral composition caused by forest fires. Expansive clay minerals increase the volume of soil during rainfall, degrading the structural stability of slopes. Clay minerals generated in soil in burned areas are therefore likely to affect the long-term stability of slopes in mountainous areas.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.174-187
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• 2017

For the purpose of evaluating the restoration effect of vegetation, in this study, the areas where vegetation was restored had been monitored for 6 years, from 2008 to 2013. The areas were restored through some techniques by utilizing forest resources and nearby forest resources: biotope restoration method, forest topsoil paving method and small diameter trees planting method. Biotope restoration method is indicated the most similar properties to the existing natural forest just after they were restored because the forest likely to be deteriorated was transplanted. Forest topsoil paving method is expected that long-time will be taken for plants to grow to form the tree layer. However, the method is expected to acquire high restore the places of empty lands such as cutting areas. Community planting method is coverage can be increased for short time, relying on the sizes of planted trees, and the tree layer can be formed. Consequently, this method is expected to create high effect if the sizes of trees are considered after the right judgement of candidate site for restoration. This study is meaningful in that each type of restoration is monitored to observe the change of triggered by the succession process to forest. The study results can play as the reference data which can be utilized and applied to the area requiring vegetation restoration or to the area facing the damage of forest resources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 1998

To investigate the restoration progression on soil physical properties and vegetation at the surface of logging road affected by timber harvesting operation. This study was carried out at logging roads constructed from 1989 to 1994 in Mt. Baekwoon, Kwangyang, Chollanam-do. Judging from the analysis of soil hardness, there were significant changes in the depth of soil between 5 and 10cm. Soil hardness was recovered from the compacted condition to the natural forest condition after 9 years passed. Soil macroporous ratio (pF2.7) of topsoil was higher than that of deep soil. Soil moisture retention of topsoil was more improved than that of deep soil. From the view of soil bulk density, the necessary time for recovering to the undisturbed condition of forest soil was about 10 years in the logging road left. Soil physical properties such as soil bulk density and porous ratio were recovered as time passed. Improved soil physical properties promoted the plant recovery on the logging road surface. The dominant species on the logging roads were Comus kousa, Prunus sargentii as overstory species, Rubus crataegifolius, Lespedeza bicolor as understory species, and Saussurea gracilis, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum as herbaceous species. The plant recovery of bank-slopes was faster than that of cut-slopes and road surface. In progress of year, average plant coverage were 70 to 90% in cut- and bank-slopes and 30 to 60% on the logging road, surface which was elapsed 9 years after logging road construction. Therefore, additional planting and seeding work could be effective to the soil condition and vegetation restoration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.201-214
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• 2015

This study was conducted to identify forest topsoil's usefulness from July 2013 to Oct 2014. Generally, there are abundant seeds in topsoils and it can be used at restoration works. Mt. GARIWANG is famous for biodiversity in Korea. This study was aimed to find out the suitable utilization methods of natural topsoils for restoration works at sky-slopes construction sites. Test beds was made to identify suitable collecting times and suitable topsoil thickness. The main results are summarized as follows. First, Mt. GARIWANG have diverse species and in topsoils we can find lots of burried seeds which can be used at restoration works. Second, according to indoor experiment, as the depth of topsoil used thicker, the number of plants and coverage rates were increased. Also, there were no distinct differences in coverage rates between 5cm and 8cm thick topsoil plots and it can be possible to use at least 3cm thick topsoils even thou lower coverage rates. Third, as the results of research about indoor and outdoor experimental plots, there were difference in plant emergency. If we use the stabilizer to protect soil erosion, then we can get more increased results at sloped outdoor experimental plots. Fourth, based on environmental impact assessment, there was 389 species in whole region of Mt. GARIWANG. Through this seed bank experiments, we can find 23 varieties, including 4 tree varieties and 19 herbaceous varieties. We can find lots of native herbaceous species from topsoils. Fifth, this research was done at the specific area of Mt. GARIWANG and used limited topsoils. But we monitoring more longer periods, then there will be more useful outcomes. Finally by researching topsoils of Mt. GARIWANG, we can find diverse native plants. Thus, we must reuse natural topsoils of Mt. Gariwang for restoration of original vegetation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2013

This study aimed to research and analyze the real condition of topsoil management of river development field as a significant case among domestic development fields for topsoil preservation. Through survey with experts, we understood the real condition and problems of topsoil management during river development. In order to verify this, we analyzed the characteristics of soil before and after development focusing on the rivers recently completed as an ecological river restoration project, supervised by Ministry of Environment among domestic river improvement projects. The study results are like below. First, experts preferred collecting and reusing topsoil as the best method to maintain and improve soil for plant growth. Second, realistically collecting and reusing topsoil is not fully conducted due to economical issues and inconvenience in construction. In the soil condition, third, the contents of elements necessary for plant growth like organic matter and total nitrogen declined overall after development.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.308-315
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• 1998

This study was conducted to evaluate the availability of the forest topsoil as a source of the "Native-soil(seed-fertilizer-soil materials)" for the hydroseeding measures which are environmentally and ecologically stable revegetation measures on rock cut-slopes. Soil sampling and factorial experiments were used with a split plot design(main plot : forest soil type and soil spraying thickness, subplot : seeding rate) in 1996. Results obtained in this study were summarized as follows : Because of the competition between the seeded(introduced) species and the native species, the number of naturally emerged species in the non-seeded plot and that of in the seeded plot were $5{\sim}9species/0.07m^2$ and $2{\sim}6species/0.07m^2$, respectively. As increasing the seeding rate(introduced species), the appearance ratio of naturally emerged species was decreased. The total number of individuals was high in the plot which used coniferous forest soil as a seed source, however the ratio of the individuals of naturally emerged species was high(30%) in the plot which used deciduous forest soil. The usage of the forest topsoil as seed bank source onto the "Native-soil" materials for hydroseeding could be reduce the seeding rate to $1,000seedlings/m^2$. According to the several factors which are competition between seeded species and naturally emerged species, dryness of soil materials, and seed burial, spraying thickness with more than 5cm was suitable for the growth of plants in variety.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.208-212
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• 2010

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.55-66
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of seeding methods for quarry rehabilitation. To achieve the objective, the experiment was designed for rehabilitation of quarry with seed mixing types (woody type and herbaceous type) and forest topsoil. Seeds and seeding materials were applied to the quarry slope using hydroseeding measures. The study was conducted in limestone quarry (Lafarge Halla Cement Inc.) near Baekdu Daegan Mountain System at Okke, Kanwon-do. The experimental seedbed was set in 2007 and field investigation was carried out from 2007 to 2010. As the result of experiment, it was found that the early-phase pattern for surveyed species to establish was affected by the soil mixture types. The mixture type of herbaceous seeds resulted in the higher plant coverage than the woody seeds. The application of forest topsoil showed a potential increase the plant diversity, but it was affected by mixing seeds. Naturally-emerged species as Alnus hirsuta, Quercus mongolica will be useful for rehabilitation at the quarry and damaged slopes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1419-1424
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• 2012

Purpose of this study was to evaluate germination characteristics of soil seed bank in rural stream topsoil using seedling emergence method in order to provide data for future ecological restoration of stream utilizing topsoil. There were 24 families, 52 genera, 61 taxa of soil seed bank flora found in topsoil from 6 rural streams. The most frequently found taxa were Compositae (12 taxa) followed by Gramineae (8 taxa), Caryophyllaceae (5 taxa), Cruciferae (4 taxa), Scrophulariaceae, Labiatae, Polygonaceae and Cyperaceae. Plant with the most number of germination was Stellaria aquatica followed by Erigeron annuus, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Poa annua, Cyperus microiria and Veronica undulata. Naturalized plants found were Erigeron annuus, Rumex crispus, Oenothera odorata, Cerastium glomeratum, Bidens frondosa, Erigeron philadelphicus, etc.