• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 1998

This study was carried out to assess the roles of soil and vegetation on the nutrient cycling in paddy ecosystem where excessive amounts of animal wastes were flowed in due to the rain. Experimental sites included one abandoned and four cropping paddy fields which were moderately terraced under a small farm village raising 90 milk cows and 35 deer under open-air condition. The watershed covered 4 ha with every 50% of uptown and fodder crops. Concentrations of $NH_4-N$ and $P_2O_5$ in waste water flowed into the abandoned paddy field, enforced by the rain of $56.4mm\;day^{-1}$, were $8.3mg\;{\ell}^{-1}$ and $1.8mg\;{\ell}^{-1}$, respectively. Total mass of rainfall inflow to abandoned field during rice growing period (1 May to 30 Sept.) was $20,900Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Total amounts of $NH_4-N$ and $P_2O_5$ contained in that inflow were estimated as 173 kg and 38 kg, respectively. Concentrations in the outflow water through one abandoned and four rice paddy fields were reduced by 92% for $NH_4-N$ and 95% for $P_2O_5$, as compared to those in the inflows. The reserved portions of nutrients in the abandoned paddy field ecosystem, which were the summation of the uptake by weed and residues in soil, were 29% of the inflow amount for $NH_4-N$ and 30% for $P_2O_5$. These results demonstrated that soil and vegetation in paddy field ecosystem reduced the excessive nutrients from the animal waste inflow to the extents that might be suitable not only for the better growth of rice plant, located at the lower paddy fields, but also for preservation of the downstream from eutrophication.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2024

Evaluating carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs from litterfall is important for soil nutrient management to enhance forest productivity and to understand the mechanisms of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. This study was conducted to compare C and N inputs from litterfall components of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don an d Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher planted in adjacent sites in the Jinju Research and Experimental Forests in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. Litterfall into litter traps was collected at three-month intervals between December 2020 and December 2021, and the C and N concentrations of the litterfall components were measured. Litterfall amounts were not significantly different between the plantations, except for reproductive litterfall components. Litterfall accumulation peaked between December and March. The litterfall C concentration in the needle and seed litterfall was significantly higher for C. obtusa than for C. japonica. By contrast, the C concentrations in needle and flower litterfall differed seasonally. The mean N concentration of needle litterfall was significantly higher in C. japonica (0.96%) and C. obtusa collected between June and September (1.01%) than in the other seasons (C. japonica: 0.43%; C. obtusa: 0.53%). Carbon and N inputs in both plantations were highest in needle litterfall collected from December to March and lowest in needle litterfall collected from June to September. Annual C input by litterfall was similar between the plantations (C. japonica: 3,054 kg C ha^-1 yr^-1; C. obtusa: 3,129 kg C ha^-1 yr^-1), whereas total N input was higher for C. japonica (46.93 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1) than for C. obtusa (25.17 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1). The higher N input in the C. japonica plantation than in the C. obtusa plantation was associated with the input of reproductive components. These results could be applied to improve stand-scale models of C and N cycling by litterfall components in C. japonica an d C. obtusa plantations.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.373-386
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• 2017

The study was conducted to investigate seasonal nutrient dynamics in rice-cultivated soils collected from farmhouses of three large-scale environment-friendly agricultural districts (LEAD), Jangheung, Suncheon, and Okcheon in which environmental-friendly agriculture has been exemplarily practiced in Korea. Among three districts, Crop- livestock cycling organic farming system had been introduced only in Jangheung. pH and EC of farmhouse soils of three LEADs were ranged between 5.5 - 6.7 and $0.4-1.0dS\;m^{-1}$ from March to September, respectively. T-N was observed to be high on the farmhouse soil in Suncheon and K was observed to be lowest on farmhouse soil in Okcheon. Concentration of $NH_4-N$ in soil was observed to be highest on June, in particular on the farmhouse in Jangheung, but rapidly decreased due to the loss of fertilizer applied in Spring. Yield and harvest index were the highest on the farmhouse in Okcheon in which total annual gross production $ha^{-1}$ was nearly three time higher than those of other two farmhouses. Farmhouse soil of Okcheon was maintained the highest seasonal nutrient balance due to the high input of fertilizer. It was estimated that K balance in the farmhouse soil in Suncheon dropped to $-60kg\;ha^{-1}$ on September, and it might have some effect on the less rice productivity due to K deficiency. Farmhouse soil in Jangheung was maintained low seasonal balance of T-N and P but showed the highest N use efficiency in the rice grain. Based on above-mentioned results, we think Jangheung farmhouse can be recommended as a model farmhouse of LEADs.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2013

The study was carried out in two different forest types viz., Banj oak and Chir pine forests to assess the variation in forest species composition and soil properties along altitudinal gradients in the Garhwal Himalayas. The results of the study showed that between the forests soil moisture was higher in Banj oak forest because of closed canopy and dense forest compared to Chir pine forest. The sand particles were reported higher in Banj oak forest which might be due to the addition of organic matter favouring coarse structure of soil, helping in holding maximum water in soils. However in the Chir pine forest low amount of soil organic matter and presence of clayey soil, develops soil compactness which reduces the penetration of water resulting in high soil bulk density. The higher accumulation of litter and presence of moisture in Banj oak forest favours higher nutrient level of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compared to Chir pine forest. The soil organic carbon also reduced with increasing altitude at both gradients. While bulk density has reverse trend with soil organic carbon in both the forests at different peaks of same region. In Banj oak forest, the highest density and total basal cover was reported 1,100 tree $ha^{-1}$ and 58.86 $m^2\;ha^{-1}$ respectively. However, the highest values of density and total basal cover of Chir pine forest was 560 tree$ha^{-1}$ and 56.94 $m^2\;ha^{-1}$ respectively. The total density and basal cover of both the forests reduced with increasing altitude. The study concludes that Banj oak forest has better nutrient cycling ability, well developed foest floor and has a greater protective and productive features compared to the Chir pine forest which is without lower vegetation cover and having only pine litter accumulation which does not allow any other species to grow.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2012

The active fraction of soil organic matter, which includes organic debris and light organic fraction, plays a major role in nutrient cycling. In addition, particulate organic matter is a valuable index of labile soil organic matter and can reflect differences in various soil behaviors. Since soil organic matter bound to soil mineral particles has its density lower than soil minerals, we partitioned soil organic matter into debris ($<1.5g\;cm^{-3}$), light fraction ($1.5-2.0g\;cm^{-3}$), and heavy fraction ($>2.0g\;cm^{-3}$), based on high density $ZnCl_{2-}$ sucrose solutions. Generally, partitioned organic bands were clearly separated, demonstrating that the $ZnCl_{2-}$ sucrose solutions are useful for such a density gradient centrifugation. The available gradient ranges from 1.2 to $2.0g\;cm^{-3}$. Although there was not a statistically meaningful difference in organic debris and organomineral fractions among the examined soils, there was a general trend that a higher content of organic debris resulted in a higher proportion of light organomineral fraction. In addition, high clay content was associated with increased fraction of light organomineals. Partitioning of soil organic carbon revealed that carbon content is reduced in the heavy fraction than in the light fraction, reflecting that the light fraction contains more fresh and abundant carbon than the passive resistant fraction. It was also found that carbon contents in the overall organic matter, debris, light fraction, and heavy fractions may differ considerably in response to different farming practices.

• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2008

Since seagrasses in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems achieve high levels of production, they require high inorganic carbon and nutrient incorporation. Thus, seagrasses may play a significant role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems. To examine growth dynamics of Zostera marina L. environmental factors such as underwater irradiance, water temperature, and salinity, and biological parameters such as shoot density, biomass, shoot morphology, and leaf productivity were measured in two bay systems (Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay) on the southern coast of Korea. While underwater irradiance did not show distinct seasonal trend, water temperature at both sites exhibited clear seasonal trend throughout the experimental period. Shoot density increased dramatically during winter due to the increased seedlings through germination of seeds in Jindong Bay and due to the increased lateral shoots in Gamak Bay. Eelgrass biomass increased during winter and decreased during summer. Maximum biomass in Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay was 250.2 and 232.3 g dry weight m–a2, respectively. Carbon incorporation into the eelgrass leaf tissues was estimated from productivity and leaf tissues carbon content. The calculated annual carbon incorporations at the Jindong Bay and Gamak Bay sites were 163 and 295 g C m–`2 y–`1, respectively. This high carbon incorporation into seagrass tissues suggests that seagrass habitats play an important role as a carbon absorber in the coastal and estuarine ecosystems.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.3
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• pp.294-302
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate aboveground tree biomass and nutrient (C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) response of tree components by high (1,933 trees $ha^{-1}$) and low (1,200 tree $ha^{-1}$) stand densities in a 27-year-old Quercus glauca plantation. The study site was located in Goseong county, Gyeongsangnam-do, southern Korea. Total 12 trees (6 high and 6 low stand densities) were cut to develop allometric equations and to measure nutrient concentration of tree components. Stand density-specific allometric equations in the high and low stand densities were significant (P < 0.05) in tree components with diameter at breast height (DBH). Also, generalized allometric equations could be applied to estimate tree biomass regardless of the difference of stand density because of no significant effect on slope of stand density-specific allometric equations. Aboveground tree biomass estimated by the allometric equations was significantly higher in the high stand density (177 Mg $ha^{-1}$) than in the low stand density (114 Mg $ha^{-1}$). However, nutrient concentration of tree components was not significantly affected by the difference of stand density. Nutrient stocks in tree components were not significantly between the high stand density and the low stand density, except for the N and P stocks of stem wood. These results indicate that aboveground tree biomass could be significantly affected by stand density, but nutrient concentration among the tree components was not affected by the difference of stand density in a Quercus glauca plantation.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 1986

The production and decomposition of litters and nutrient cycling of forests were studied at the pine forests such as Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida, Pinus thunbergii, Abies holophylla and Larix kaempfer. The annual litter production of the P. densiflora forest was the most on Mt. Mudeung which was 620.75g/$m^2$ and the least on Mt. Halla which was 155.00g/$m^2$. The decay rate of litters was the highest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung which was k=0.256 and the lowest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla on Mt. Jiri which were k=0.099. The half time of decomposition of litters was shortest at the P. densiflora forest on Mt. Mudeung and the longest at the P. densiflora on Mt. Halla and A. holophylla forests on Mt. Jiri. The average decay rate of the L. kaempferi forests which was k=0.204 was the highest and that of the A. holophylla forests which was k=0.122 was the lowest. The decay rate tended to decrease against increasing the altitude. The annual production of litterr, the contents of mineral nutrients and the amounts of mineral nutrients inputted into the forest soil tended to increase in proportion to the decay rate, k.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 1995

Although many studies of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems have reported that clearcutting creates increased organic matter decomposition and nitrogen (N) mineralization in soils, little is known about the change of these factors following various levels of canopy removal. A series of experimental plots with four levels of canopy cover, i.e., clearcut, 25％, 75％, and uncut, was established in northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) stands in northern Lover Michigan, U.S.A. I examined decomposition of cellulose filter papers and N mineralization using an in situ soil incubation technique in the top 15cm of mineral soil during the second growing season (1992, May-October) following stand manipulation. Mass loss from cellulose filter papers was more rapid in the canopy removal treatments than in the uncut treatment. similarly, net N mineralization was significantly greater in the canopy removal treatments than in the uncut treatment. There was no significant difference in net N mineralization rates among the three levels of canopy removal. Net N mineralization for the growing season was 58 kg/ha for the clearcut, 54 kg/ha for the 25％ canopy cover, 51 kg/ha for the 75％ canopy cover, and 22 kg/ha for the uncut treatment. These results indicated that even only small amounts of canopy removal (leaving 75％ canopy cover) let to substantial increases of cellulose decomposition and the amount of available soil nitrogen.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2000

Arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi have significant role for ecosystem structure and function. They are the major component of forest soil ecosystems and critically important for water and nutrient cycling in the system. To understand the ecology of AM fungi the fungal spores were collected, identified and counted in forest soils under various climatic and edaphic conditions. In relation to soil depth 90% of AM fungi spores and mycorrhizas distributed within 15cm soil depth. Number of spores per $100m{\ell}$ forest soil volume was 5 to 36 spores from 1 to 3 fungal species. AM fungal species diversity was higher in warmer climates, and more moist and fertile soils. The most frequently found species were Gigaspora decipiens irrespective of soil moisture and Gi. gigantea irrespective of soil fertility. In the Jeju island the soils of Cryptomeria japonica plantations and Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens meadow had more AM spores than the other soils. We suggest AM fungi be considered as keystones species when restoring a disturbed forest ecosystem.