• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.97 no.6
• /
• pp.582-588
• /
• 2008

This study was carried out to evaluate litterfall amounts in a 28-year old Quercus acutissima stand at various levels of fertilization. The levels of fertilization were control, 3:4:1 (100 kg N/ha, 130 kg P/ha, 33 kg K/ha), 3:8:1, 3:4:2, 6:4:1, and 2:2:1, respectively. Fertilizers were applied for 3 years. Litterfall amounts following 3-year fertilization were significantly different among various levels of fertilization. Leaf litter was significantly higher (P<0.05) in 3:4:1 (4,015 kg/ha/yr) than in 3:8:1 treatments (2,874 kg/ha/yr), whereas other treatments showed no significant differences (P>0.05). Total litterfall amounts throughout the study period were 4,206 kg/ha/yr in 3:8:1, 4,992 kg/ha/yr in 2:2:1, 5,372 kg/ha/yr in 6:4:1, 5,456 kg/ha/yr in control, 5,840 kg/ha/yr in 3:4:1 and 6,015 kg/ha/yr in 3:4:2 treatments, respectively. Proportion of leaf litter was more than 66% of total litterfall in 3:4:1, 6:4:1, and 3:8:1 treatments compared with 61% in the control. These results indicated that litterfall amounts in a Q. accutissma stand were affected by various levels of fertilization.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.174-182
• /
• 2006

This study was to clarify the effects of forest stand changes on hydrological components of evapotranspiration and discharge. The forest-hydrological experimental stations in Gwangneung and Yangju, Gyeonggido near metropolitan Seoul have been operated by the Korea Forest Research Institute since 1979 to clarify the effects of forest types and practices on the water resources and nutrient cycling and soil loss. The hydrological regime of the forested catchments may change as forests develop. The ranges of change may be different depending on forest types. Evapotranspiration can be estimated to 679mm, 580mm and 368mm in planted young coniferous (PYC), natural old-growth deciduous (NOD) and rehabilitated young mixed (RYM), respectively. The slope of the discharge-duration curve shows the capacity of discharge control in a specific catchment. The slope tended to be steeper in RYM than NOD, the better forest condition. The slope in RYM became more gentle as the forest stand developed. Forests can modulate peak flows through interception, evapotranspiration and soil storage opportunity. PYC and RYM showed 100 and 50mm of threshold rainfall for modulating peak flows, respectively. The deciduous forest did not represent sudden changes of peak flow rates to rainfall, even 200 mm rainfall Forest development in PYC may play an important role in modulation of peak flows because peak flow rates reduced after 10 years.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.9
• /
• pp.271-280
• /
• 2017

Background: Soil microorganisms play key roles in nutrient cycling and are distributed throughout the soil profile. Currently, there is little information about the characteristics of the microbial communities along the soil depth because most studies focus on microorganisms inhabiting the soil surface. To better understand the functions and composition of microbial communities and the biogeochemical factors that shape them at different soil depths, we analyzed microbial activities and bacterial and fungal community composition in soils up to a 120 cm depth at a fallow field located in central Korea. To examine the vertical difference of microbial activities and community composition, ${\beta}$-1,4-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, ${\beta}$-1,4-xylosidase, ${\beta}$-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase, and acid phosphatase activities were analyzed and barcoded pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes (bacteria) and internal transcribed spacer region (fungi) was conducted. Results: The activity of all the soil enzymes analyzed, along with soil C concentration, declined with soil depth. For example, acid phosphatase activity was $125.9({\pm}5.7({\pm}1SE))$, $30.9({\pm}0.9)$, $15.7({\pm}0.6)$, $6.7({\pm}0.9)$, and $3.3({\pm}0.3)nmol\;g^{-1}\;h^{-1}$ at 0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90, and 90-120 cm soil depths, respectively. Among the bacterial groups, the abundance of Proteobacteria (38.5, 23.2, 23.3, 26.1, and 17.5% at 0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90, and 90-120 cm soil depths, respectively) and Firmicutes (12.8, 11.3, 8.6, 4.3, and 0.4% at 0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90, and 90-120 cm soil depths, respectively) decreased with soil depth. On the other hand, the abundance of Ascomycota (51.2, 48.6, 65.7, 46.1, and 45.7% at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 cm depths, respectively), a dominant fungal group at this site, showed no clear trend along the soil profile. Conclusions: Our results show that soil C availability can determine soil enzyme activity at different soil depths and that bacterial communities have a clear trend along the soil depth at this study site. These metagenomics studies, along with other studies on microbial functions, are expected to enhance our understanding on the complexity of soil microbial communities and their relationship with biogeochemical factors.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.45 no.12
• /
• pp.1293-1307
• /
• 2012

This study is to evaluate the RHESSys (Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System) simulated streamflow (Q), evapotranspiration (ET), soil moisture (SM), gross primary productivity (GPP) and photosynthetic productivity (PSNnet) with the measured data. The RHESSys is a hydro-ecological model designed to simulate integrated water, carbon, and nutrient cycling and transport over spatially variable terrain. A 8.5 $km^2$ Seolma-cheon catchment located in the northwest of South Korea was adopted. The catchment covers 90.0% forest and the dominant soil is sandy loam. The model was calibrated with 2 years (2007-2008) daily Q at the watershed outlet and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) GPP, PSNnet and 3 year (2007～2009) daily ET data measured at flux tower using the eddy-covariance technique. The coefficient of determination ($R^2$) and the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (ME) for Q were 0.74 and 0.63, and the average $R^2$ for ET and GPP were 0.54 and 0.93 respectively. The model was validated with 1 year (2009) Q and GPP. The $R^2$ and the ME for Q were 0.92 and 0.84, the $R^2$ for GPP were 0.93.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.112-122
• /
• 2023

To restore the ecological function of contaminated soil and maximize the ecological services provided by the soil, besides the toxicity orrisk caused by pollutants, the functional aspects of the soil ecosystem should be considered. In this study, a method for evaluating the health of cleaned soil was presented, and the applicability of the proposed evaluation method was examined by applying it to soil treated with washing and landfarming. Productivity, habitat, water retention capacity, nutrient cycling, carbon retention capacity, and buffering capacity were used as soil health evaluation indicators. The results showed that the soil health was not completely recovered after remediation, and even in the case of the washed soil, the health was lower than before remediation. On the other hand, there was no significant change in soil quality due to oil pollution, but soil health deteriorated. Unlike the slightly improved soil quality after landfarming treatment, soil health was not completely restored. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that it is desirable to consider both soil quality and health when evaluating the remediation effect. The soil health evaluation method proposed in this study can be usefully utilized for the sustainable use of cleaned soil and to promote ecosystem services.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.97-107
• /
• 2015

Wetlands constitute a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and have unique characteristics such as frequent inundation, inflow of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems, presence of plants adapted to grow in water, and soil that is occasionally oxygen deficient due to saturation. These characteristics and the presence of vegetation determine physical and chemical properties that affect decomposition rates of organic matter (OM). Decomposition of OM is associated with activities of various extracellular enzymes (EE) produced by bacteria and fungi. Extracellular enzymes convert macromolecules to simple compounds such as labile organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) that can be easily taken up by microbes and plants. Therefore, the enzymatic approach is helpful to understand the decomposition rates of OM and nutrient cycling in wetland soils. This paper reviews the physical and biogeochemical factors that regulate extracellular enzyme activities (EEa) in wetland soils, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and phenol oxidase that decompose organic matter and release C, N, P, and S nutrients for microbial and plant growths. Effects of pH, water table, and particle size of OM on EEa were not significantly different among sites, whereas the influence of temperature on EEa varied depending on microbial acclimation to extreme temperatures. Addition of C, N, or P affected EEa differently depending on the nutrient state, C:N ratio, limiting factors, and types of enzymes of wetland soils. Substrate quality influenced EEa more significantly than did other factors. Also, drainage of wetland and increased temperature due to global climate change can stimulate phenol oxidase activity, and anthropogenic N deposition can enhance the hydrolytic EEa; these effects increase OM decomposition rates and emissions of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ from wetland systems. The researches on the relationship between microbial structures and EE functions, and environmental factors controlling EEa can be helpful to manipulate wetland ecosystems for treating pollutants and to monitor wetland ecosystem services.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.248-255
• /
• 2011

For the environmental friendly soil management on the cultivation of crops in the greenhouse, organic materials, such as the by product-fertilizer derived from livestock manure, rice straw, mushroom media, rice hulls, wood sawdust, and cocopeat, were used as carbon sources adjusting the ratio of carbon to nitrogen to 10, 20, and 30 based on the inorganic soil N. In each C/N ratio of greenhouse soil, watermelon was cultivated in the greenhouse as crop for experiment for the spring and summer of the year and the experimental results were summarized as follows. The concentration of T-C in the organic materials applied were between $289{\sim}429g\;kg^{-1}$, In the C/N ratio of 10, using watermelon as the crop cultivated during the second half of the year in the greenhouse soil, the $NO_3$-N and EC were reduced by 21 to 37%, and 26 to 33%, respectively, except the by product-fertilizer from livestock manure, compared to the soil $NO_3$-N and EC used in the experiment. After the watermelon was cultivated in soils that C/N ratios were controlled as 10, 20, and 30 with wood sawdust adding as carbon sources in the three soils with the different EC values, EC values of the soils were reduced by 33, 42, and 39%, respectively, compared to the soil EC used in the experiment. The weight of watermelon was 10.1-13.4 kg per one unit, and, of the three soils with different EC values. In the soils with three different EC values controlled at C/N ratio of 20, the weight of watermelon was good. The degree of sugar of watermelon were 11.8 to 12.3 Brix, which means that the difference between the treatments was not significant. In conclusion, the C/N ratio of 20 controlled by the proper supply of organic materials according to the representative EC values shown in the greenhouse soils was optimal condition enough to maintain the soil management for the organic culture with the proper nutrient cycling.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.39 no.4 s.118
• /
• pp.498-507
• /
• 2006

The main objective of present study was to evaluate how seasonal rainfall influenced natural habitat conditions of 10 metric habitat variables along with ionic conditions and suspended solids in the Woopo Wetland during August 2002-July 2003. Largest spatial variabilities in total suspended solids (TSS) occurred during the summer monsoon and the inorganic suspended solids (ISS), expressed as a inorganic proportion of total solids, showed linearly increasing trend from the upstream to downstream. This phenomenon was mainly attributed to counter flow of turbid water from the main Nakdong-River. During the flooding, ISS : TSS ratio showed large increases (92%) in the downstream than the upstream (43%). For this reason, transparency declined (mean=0.13 m, range=0.08-0.21 m) largely in the downstream reach and thus, chlorophyll-a concentration showed low values (range: $4.2-8.6\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), indicating a direct influence on primary productivity or algal growth by inorganic turbidity. In the 2nd survey, ISS averaged 4.0 mg $L^{-1}$ (3.3-4.8 mg $L^{-1}$), thus the ISS decreased by 14 fold, compared to the ISS in the 1st survey during the flooding, while organic suspended solids (OSS) values were greater than those of ISS, indicating a dominance of organic solids. This condition was similar to solid contents in the 3rd survey, but showed a large difference compared to the 4th survey during the growing season. Habitat health assessments, based on 10 metric habitat variables, showed that QHEI values were greatest in the growing season (May) than any other seasons and largest spatial variations occurred in the 2nd survey. Overall, dataset suggest that seasonal episodic flooding during the monsoon may largely contribute nutrient cycling and sediment contents in the Woopo Wetland and Topyung Stream.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.102 no.2
• /
• pp.210-215
• /
• 2013

Litterfall production represents a major contribution of carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. This study was carried out to determine the litterfall production in a broadleaved deciduous forest at the Mt. Keumsan Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, Southern Korea. Littefall was collected monthly or bimonthly from the site for 7 years from 2004 to2010. Leaf and reproductive (catkins) litters showed a seasonal variation, but litters of needle, branch, and barks were not changed across the seasons. Annual leaf litter of Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora were significantly different (p<0.05) but that of C. cordata, Chamaecyparis obtusa, and Pinus thunbergii was not significantly changed for 7 years (p>0.05). Annual average litterfall production was 5,223 kg/ha, but annual variations were very large with minimum of 4,110 kg/ha/yr in 2004 and maximum of 6,002 kg/ha/yr in 2007. Total litterfall comprised of 2,323 kg/ha/yr in Q. serrata, 442 kg/ha/yr in C. laxiflora, 157 kg/ha/yr in C. cordata, 131 kg/ha/yr in Acer pseudosieboldianum, 390 kg/ha/yr in other deciduous tree species, 74 kg/ha/yr in P. thunbergii, 37 kg/ha/yr in C. obtusa, 672 kg/ha/yr in branches, 515 kg/ha/yr in miscellaneous, 448 kg/ha/yr in reproductive parts, and 54 kg/ha/yr in barks. respectively. The results indicate that litterfall production of the Mt. Keumsan LTER site was yearly fructurated with the positive linear relationship between leaf or total litterfall and annual mean temperature if no disturbance such as a typoon, and was lower than that of other Korean LTER sites.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.108 no.1
• /
• pp.40-49
• /
• 2019

Coarse woody debris (CWD), which is a component of the forest ecosystem, plays a major role in forest energy flow and nutrient cycling. In particular, CWD isolates carbon for a long time and is important in terms of slowing the rate of carbon released from the forest to the atmosphere. Therefore, this study measured the physiochemical characteristics and respiration rate ($R_{CWD}$) of CWD for Larix kaempferi and Pinus rigida in temperate forests in central Korea. In summer 2018, CWD samples from decay class (DC) I to IV were collected in the 14 forest stands. $R_{CWD}$ and physiochemical characteristics were measured using a closed chamber with a portable carbon dioxide sensor in the laboratory. In both species, as CWD decomposition progressed, the density ($D_{CWD}$) of the CWD decreased while the water content ($WC_{CWD}$) increased. Furthermore, the carbon concentrations did not significantly differ by DC, whereas the nitrogen concentration significantly increased and the C/N ratio decreased. The respiration rate of L. kaempferi CWD increased significantly up to DC IV, but for P. rigida it increased to DC II and then unchanged for DC II-IV. Accordingly, except for carbon concentration, all the measured characteristics showed a significant correlation with $R_{CWD}$. Multiple linear regression showed that $WC_{CWD}$ was the most influential factor on $R_{CWD}$. $WC_{CWD}$ affects $R_{CWD}$ by increasing microbial activity and is closely related to complex environmental factors such as temperature and light conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to study their correlation and estimate the time-series pattern of CWD moisture.