• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate plow pan characteristics and to grasp the relationship between its particle size distribution fractal dimension ($D_m$) and water transport in paddy plow pan. Twenty four soil sampling sites with different management groups, ordinary and sandy-textured, were selected and investigated for physical properties of soils such as Yamanaka hardness in April, non-submerged condition, before rice seedling transplanting. The plow pan appearing depth and thickness was determined by penetration resistance profile. Undisturbed core samples with five replicates were sampled at plow pan layerwith 2 inch cores for measuring soil bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The particle size distribution fractal dimension ($D_m$) was calculated by the method following the procedure Tylerand Wheacraft (1992), using the USDA-based particle size analysis datawith fractions of 0-0.002, 0.002-0.053, 0.053-0.1, 0.1-0.25, 0.25-0.5, 0.5-1.0, and 1.0-2.0 mm. The plow pan of investigated fields appeared at a range from 5 to 30 cm depth, showing minimum value in sandy-textured management group and maximum value in ordinary management group. The thickness of plow pan were distributed from 5 to 17 cm, showing both minimum and maximum values in sandy-textured management group. Averagely, the plow appearing depth were deeper in ordinary management group than in sandy-textured management group, whereas the reverse in the thickness of plow pan. The particle size distribution fractal dimension ($D_m$) had higher value with finer textures, with higher fractality in coarser texture. Saturated hydraulic conductivities, $K_s$, of plow pan soils distributed from 0.5 to 1420 mm $day^{-1}$, having the highest value in sandy skeletal soils. The $K_s$ decreased with decreasing clay content and $D_m$, showing power function relationships. The coefficient of determination, $R^2$, of the fitted power functions were higher in $D_m$ as x-axis than in clay content. This means that $D_m$ could give us more effective estimation than clay content. Especially, sandy-textured paddy soils had higher $R^2$, compared to ordinary paddy soils. $K_s$ of relatively coarse-textured soils with less than 18%of clay content, therefore, was more dependent on particle size distribution than that of relatively fine-textured soils. From these results, it could be concluded that the fractal scaling gives us a unique quantity describing particle size distribution and then can be applied to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity, especially more effective in coarse-textured soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.300-309
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• 2016

The monolithic weighing lysimeter is a useful facility that could directly measure water movement via layers, drainage, and evapotranspiration (ET) with precise sensors. We evaluated water movement through layers and water balance using the lysimeter with undisturbed paddy sandy loam soil, Gangseo soil series (mesic family of Anthraquic Eutrudepts classified by Soil Taxonomy) during winter season from Dec. 2014 to Feb. 2015. Daily ET indicated up to 1.5 mm in December and January and 2 mm in February. The abrupt increase of soil water tension at the depth of 0.1 m, when soil temperature at the same depth was below $2^{\circ}C$, was observed due to temporary frost heaving. The surface evaporation was less than reference ET below -15 kPa of soil water potential at the depth of 0.1 m. The maximum drainage rate was similar to the saturated hydraulic conductivity of a plow pan layer. Both upward and downward water movement, related to ET and drainage, were retarded by a plow pan layer. This study demonstrated that the lysimeter study could well quantify water balance components even under frost heaving during winter season and that a plow pan with low permeability could act as a boundary that affects drainage and evapotranspiration.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.655-661
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• 2016

Relationships between saturated conductivity (Ks) and separate contents were evaluated from 44 soil series of arable lands: 18 for paddy fields and 26 for upland crop fields. Saturated hydraulic conductivities of A, B, and C horizons were determined with tension infiltrometer and Guelph permeameter in situ. Sand, silt, clay, and organic matter content of each horizon were analyzed. Based on correlation analysis, sand separate had a positive relationship with Ks for both paddy (r=0.27, p=0.017) and upland fields (r=0.24. p=0.030). Clay content had a negative relationship with Ks for paddy soils (r=-0.32, p=0.005) while significant correlation between them was not found for upland crop fields (r=-0.20, p=0.07). Organic matter content showed a positive relationship with Ks only for upland crop fields (r=0.33, p=0.002). Due to low correlation coefficients between separate contents and Ks, performance of pedotransfer functions was not enough to estimate Ks. It implies that hydraulic properties of arable lands were affected by other factors rather than particle characteristics. Platy structure and plow pan were suggested to limit Ks of paddy fields. Soil compaction and diversity of parent materials were proposed to influence Ks of upland crop fields. It suggests that genetic processes and artificial managements should be included in pedotransfer functions to estimate hydraulic properties appropriately.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.246-254
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• 2015

This study explored the effect of rainfall pattern and soil characteristics on water management in rice paddy fields, using a soil water balance model, BUDGET. In two sites with different soil textural group, coarse loamy soil (Gangseo series) and fine soil (Hwadong series), respectively, we have monitored daily decrease of water depth, percolation rate, and groundwater table. The observed evapotranspiration (ET) was obtained from differences between water depth decrease and percolation rate. The root mean square difference values between observed and BUDGET-estimated ET ranged between 10% and 20% of the average observed ET. This is comparable to the measurement uncertainty, suggesting that the BUDGET model can provide reliable ET estimation for rice fields. In BUDGET model of this study, irrigation requirement was determined as minimum water need for maintaining water-saturated soil surface, assuming 100 mm of bund height and no lateral loss of water. The model results showed different water balance and irrigation requirement with the different soil profile and indicated that minimum percolation rate by plow pan could determine the irrigation requirement of rice paddy field. For the condition of different rainfall distribution, the results presented different irrigation period and amounts, representing the importance of securing water for irrigation against different rainfall pattern.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.330-348
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• 2007

Soil problems and agricultural water management of the reclaimed land in Korea were reviewed through research results conducted in RDA and ADC. According to the Korean Soil Classification and Soil Survey(NIAST, 2002), the 5 soil orders with the 45 soil series were distributed on the fluvio-marine or marine deposit of the west and south coastal plains. Yeompo, Munpo, Hasa, Gwangwhal, and Poseung soil series were most commonly distributed soil on the fluvio-marine deposits, associated with tideland of the sea coast. Former 4 soils were Entisols, and the latest one was the Inceptisols. Buyong soil associated with Poseung series was an Alfisols. Extent of Myeongji soil, a Molisols, and Yongho soil, a Histosol, were minor. Salinity control and management problems were closely related with high water table and low percolation rate due to plow-pan layer developed during the leaching process in the silty textured soil. For evaluation of field salinity, use of an electromagnetic inductance, EM38, with GPS was helpful to understand salinity status and field variability. Deep plowing, subsoiling and drainage improvement by tile drainage might be effective in paddy with plow-pan. New technology such as variable rate fertilization might save fertilizers and thus reduce environmental impact of agriculture on water quality. Water quality of agricultural water resources in reclaimed land was less adequate than that of inland water resources. Proper crop management is necessary depended upon quality for crop growth as well as to match with water quality target.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.641-647
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• 2015

Monitoring of soil fertility by long-term application of fertilizers is necessary to improve the fertility of soil and the productivity of crop. The objective of this study was conducted to investigate the changes of exchangeable Mg by continuous application of fertilizers from 1969 to 2014. The treatments were no fertilization (No fert.) and fertilization (NPK, NPK+C, NPK+S, and NPK+CS). The concentration of exchangeable Mg in No fert., NPK+C, and NPK+S treatments tended to increase from 1965 to 1975, but decrease gradually from 1976 to 1987, and increase again after 1988. Based on these, the changes of exchangeable Mg were divided into period I ('69 ~'75), period II ('76~'87), and period III ('88~'14). Especially, exchangeable Mg decreased in the period II. This was presumed that a significant amount of Mg from topsoil were leached into subsoil by break of plow pan and some of subsoil was incorporated into topsoil according to change of plowing depth by replacement of tillage machinery. It could be possible that exchangeable Mg in NPK, NPK+S, and NPK+CS was accumulated in the depth of 15~20 cm. For the period III, exchangeable Mg in No fert., NPK, NPK+C, NPK+S, and NPK+CS treatments increased at rates of 0.013, 0.018, 0.015, 0.023, and $0.024cmolckg^{-1}{\cdot}yr^{-1}$ respectively. Exchangeable Mg level in NPK+S was lower than the other treatments in the period I and period II, but higher than in the period III. This result was attributed to replacement of silicate fertilizer type from wollastonite (Mg 0.3%) to silicate fertilizer (Mg 3%). Also, exchangeable Mg level of No fert. treatment increased, which showed that Mg concentration of irrigated water had the greatest impact on Mg accumulation of soil. Recently, Mg level of irrigated water tended to increase, indicating that Mg concentration of water will affect greatly the concentration of exchangeable Mg of soil in the future. Like these, the changes of exchangeable Mg were greatly influenced by agricultural environment such as plowing depth, plow pan, content of fertilizer, and quality of irrigated water. Considering these agricultural environment, the proper management of soil is needed for the improvement of soil fertility and crop productivity.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.336-344
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• 2017

The soil water characteristics curve (SWCC) represents the relation between soil water potential and soil water content. The shape and range of SWCC according to the relation could vary depending on soil characteristics. The objective of the study was to estimate SWCC depending on soil types and layers and to analyze the trend among them. To accomplish this goal, the unsaturated three soils were considered: silty clay loam, loam, and sandy loam soils. Weighable lysimeters were used for exactly measuring soil water content and soil water potential. Two fitting models, van Genuchten and Campbell, were applied. Two models entirely fitted well the measured SWCC, indicating low RMSE and high $R^2$ values. However, the large difference between the measured and the estimated was found at the 30 cm layer of the silty clay loam soil, and the gap was wider as soil water potential increased. In addition, the non-linear decrease of soil water content according to the increase of soil water potential tended to be more distinct in the sandy loam soil and at the 10 cm layer than in the silty clay loam soil and at the lower layers. These might be seen due to the various factors such as not only pore size distribution, but also cracks by high clay content and plow pan layers by compaction. This study clearly showed difficulty in the estimation of SWCC by such kind of factors.