• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.731-742
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• 2014

In the current study, we investigated effects of a combination of earthworm casting, environment-friendly by-product fertilizer, and cultivation soil of Gymnocalycium mihanovichii in a heavy fertilizing culture on diameter, height, numbers of tubercles, and chemical properties of soil thereby elucidating optimal mixture ratio for securing production as well as providing nutrients throughout cultivation period. The Gymnocalycium mihanovichii var 'Ihong', one of grafted cactus for export (Rootstock: 9 cm, Scion: $1.5{\times}1.3cm$ grafted cactus) was cultured in plastic houses of Agricultural Technology Center located in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul from June, 2013 through December, 2013. For the control group, a mixture of sand and fertilizer (50:50) was used as this ratio is widely utilized in farmhouses. In contrast, a variety mixtures of sand and earthworm casting that was produced with food wastes was compared; the mixture ratios were 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100 and pH for these mixtures were found to be similar each other (ranging between 7.1 and 7.4) which is in an appropriate range (pH 6.5-7.5) for cultivation of G. mihanovichii. The organic content was increasing along with increasing contents of earthworm casting ratio while it was lower than the treatment practice group (32-43 mg/kg vs. 55 mg/kg). The content of exchangeable cation was also increasing as the ratio of earthworm casting was elevated; although levels of $K^+$, $Na^+$, and $Mg^{2+}$ were lower than the treatment practice group, the level of $Ca^{2+}$ was higher ($9.1cmol^+/kg$ and $11.5-33.7cmol^+/kg$ in the treatment practice group and the earthworm casting group, respectively). Three months after grafting, diameters of G. mihanovichii were compared with the control group; consequently, there was a significant difference noted in between the earthworm casting group and the control group (31.39 mm vs. 32.46-37.59 mm). After 5 months, growth characteristics of G. mihanovichii were evaluated. Similarly, the diameter of G. mihanovichii was significantly increasing in the group with higher ratio of earthworm casting treatment (32.63 mm vs. 32.49-37.59 mm). The height of tubercles was 2.63 mm in the control group while it was significantly elevating along with the ratio of earthworm casting mixture. The more numbers of tubercles, the more incomes for farm-houses; as results, higher mixture ration of earthworm casting resulted more numbers of tubercles compared to the control group (2.7 vs. 3.2-8.3 ea). In particular, in the earthworm casting groups with 80% and 100% ratios, the numbers of tubercles were 6.2 and 8.3 ea, respectively, which is 2.5 times more than those of the control group. These results indicate that earthworm casting treatment may be utilized in G. mihanovichii farming houses for short term production of tubercles. In the group with 40% and 60% of earthworm casting mixture, the numbers of tubercles were found to be 4.5 and 4.8 ea, respectively which is higher than the control group as well; in these groups, there were no issues with soil drainage as well as moss formation. Given the analysis results of growth characteristics of G. mihanovichii, it was concluded that 40% and 60% of earthworm casting mixture might be the optimal ratios.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.641-646
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• 2013

Chemical properties of agricultural soils in Korea have been investigated at four-year interval in order of paddy, polytunnel, upland, and orchard soils since 1999; polytunnel soils were investigated over the whole country in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. Polytunnel soils were taken from the surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) at 2,651, 1,274, 1,374 and 1,374 sites in all provinces of South Korea. One hundred sampling sites located in more than 400 m altitude were additionally investigated in 2008 and 2012. Average of soil chemical properties in 2012 except Jeju province were 6.6 for pH, 3.2 dS $m^{-1}$ for EC, 37 g $kg^{-1}$ for organic matter (OM), 1,049 mg $kg^{-1}$ for available (Avail.) phosphate, 1.58 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for exchangeable (Exch.) K, 10.6 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for Exch. Ca, and 3.3 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for Exch. Mg. Except pH, averages of all chemical properties exceeded the upper limit of optimal range. The median values except pH showed a lower value than the averages. The pH, OM and Exch. Ca had slightly increased from 6.3 to 6.6, from 34 to 37 g $kg^{-1}$, and from 7.7 in 2000 to 10.6 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ in 2012, respectively. The order of sample ratios exceeding the optimal range were Avail. $P_2O_5$ (83%) > Exch. Ca (80%) > Exch. K (70%) > Exch. Mg (65%) > EC (55%) > OM (48%) > pH (29%) in 2012. The order of sample ratios below the optimal range was OM (25%) > Exch. K (25%) > pH (20%), Exch. Mg and Avail. $P_2O_5$ (9%) > Exch. Ca (6%) in 2012. The excessive proportion of pH, Exch. Ca, Exch. Mg and OM slightly increased, while the insufficient proportion of those decreased. Approximately 55% of polytunnel soils exceeding EC 2 dS $m^{-1}$ was evaluated with salt accumulated soils having the risk of growth disorder of crops. Nutrient contents in polytunnel soils in Korea showed high level especially Avail. $P_2O_5$ and Exch. cations. Therefore, recommended fertilization based on soil testing or plant testing is needed for soil nutrient management.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.719-733
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of no-tillage on sequential cropping supported from recycling of first crop ridge on the productivity of crop and physical properties of soil under green house condition. This study is a part of "No-tillage agriculture of Korea-type on recycled ridge". From results for distribution of soil particle size with time process after tillage, soil particles were composed with granular structure in both tillage and no-tillage. No-tillage soil in distribution of above 2 mm soil particle increased at top soil and subsoil compared with tillage soil. Tillage and one year of no-tillage soil were not a significant difference at above 0.25 mm~below 0.5 mm, above 0.5 mm~below 1.0 mm, and above 1.0 mm of water-stable aggregate. Two years of no-tillage soil was significantly increased by 8.2%, 4.5%, and 1.7% at above 0.25 mm~below 0.5 mm, above 0.5 mm~below 1.0 mm, and above 1.0 mm of water-stable aggregate, respectively, compared with one year of no-tillage. Bulk density of top soil was $1.10MG\;m^3$ at tillage and $1.30MG\;m^3$ at one year of no-tillage. Bulk density of top soil was $1.14MG\;m^3$ at two years and $1.03MG\;m^3$ at three years of no-tillage, respectively. Bulk density of subsoil was a similar tendency. Solid phase ratio in top soil and subsoil was increased at one year of no-tillage compared with tillage soil, while soil phase ratio decreased at two and three years of no-tillage. Pore space ratio in tillage top soil (58.5%) was decreased by 8.5% at compared with no-tillage soil (51.0%). Pore space ratio was 56.9% and 61.2% at two and three years of no-tillage soil, respectively. Subsoil was a similar tendency. Gaseous phase ratio was decreased at one year of no-tillage soil, and increased at two and three years of no-tillage soil compared with tillage soil. Liquid phase ratio in top soil was increased at one year of no-tillage (28.3%), and decreased at two years (23.4%) and at three years (18.3 %) of no-tillage soil compared with tillage soil (24.2%). Subsoil was a similar tendency. Liquid phase ratio in subsoil was increased than top soil.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.968-972
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• 2012

Soil chemical properties of agricultural soils in Korea were investigated at four-years interval in order of paddy, plastic film house, upland, and orchard soils since 1999. Paddy soil samples were taken from the surface 15 cm at 4,047, 2,010, 2,110 and 2,110 sites in all provinces of South Korea in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2010, respectively. Soil chemical properties in Korea except Jeju province were measured. Soil pH and exchangeable calcium and available silicate contents increased with increasing the application rate of silicate fertilizer and with decreasing its application interval. Soil organic matter content also increased from $22.0g\;kg^{-1}$ in 1999 to $26.0g\;kg^{-1}$ in 2011. Average concentration of available phosphate in 2011 was higher than the upper limit of its optimal range for rice cultivation. However, exchangeable magnesium and available silicate contents were below the lower limit of their optimal ranges, which were 80% and 92% of them, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1230-1236
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• 2012

To verify that the electrokinetic remediation is effective for decreasing salinity of fields of the plastic-film house, field tests for physical property, chemical property, and crop productivity of soils have been conducted. The abridged result of those tests is as follows. In the EK treatment, the electrokinetic remediation has been treated at the constant voltage (about 0.8 V $cm^{-1}$) for fields of the farm household. At this time, an alternating current (AC) 220 V of the farm household was transformed a direct current. The HSCI (High Silicon Cast Iron) that the length of the stick for a cation is 20cm, and the Fe Plate for an anion have been spread out on the ground. As the PVC pipe that is 10 cm in diameter was laid in the bottom of soils, cations descend on the cathode were discharged together. For soil physical properties according to the EK treatment, the destruction effect of soil aggregate was large, and the infiltration rate of water was increased. However, variations of bulk density and porosity were not considerable. Meanwhile, in chemical properties of soils, principal ions of such as EC, $NO_3{^-}$-N, $K^+$, and $Na^+$ were better rapidly reduced in the EK treated control plot than in the untreated control plot. And properties such as pH, $P_2O_5$ and $Ca^{2+}$ had a small impact on the EK. For cropping season of crop cultivation according to the EK treatment, decreasing rates of chemical properties of soils were as follows; $NO_3{^-}$-N 78.3% > $K^+$ 72.3% > EC 71.6% $$\geq_-$$ $Na^+$ 71.5% > $Mg^{2+}$ 36.8%. As results of comparing the experimental plot that EK was treated before crop cultivation with it that EK was treated during crop cultivation, the decreasing effect of chemical properties was higher in the case that EK was treated during crop cultivation. After the EK treatment, treatment effects were distinct for $NO_3{^-}$-N and EC that a decrease of nutrients is clear. However, because the lasting effect of decreasing salinity were not distinct for the single EK treatment, fertilization for soil testing was desirable carrying on testing for chemical properties of soils after EK treatments more than two times. In the growth of cabbages according to the EK treatment, the rate of yield increase was 225.5% for the primary treatment, 181.0% for the secondary treatment, and 124.2% for third treatment compared with the untreated control plot. The yield was increased by a factor of 130.0% for the hot pepper at the primary treatment (Apr. 2011), 248.1% for the lettuce at the secondary treatment (Nov.2011), and 125.4% for the young radish at the third treatment (Jul. 2012). In conclusion, the effect of yield increase was accepted officially for all announced crops.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.277-284
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• 1998

The raw food waste of Korea contained markedly high sodium chloride and such high sodium chloride concentration in the soil is a factor limiting plant growth and impairing soil physicochemical properties. This study was carried out to assess the effect of NaCl-containing compost on the growth of lettuce(Lactuca satjva L.) and on the soil chemical properties. For the experiment, six treatments applying 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, and 9% NaCl-containing composts at the rate of $20Mg\;ha^{-1}$ were conducted established in a greenhouse. Growth measurements, chemical analysis of lettuce foliage, and soil chemical properties after the harvest were investigated. Lettuce yield in the treatments applied to composts over 3% NaCl was gradually reduced and mortality of lettuce as well as Na concent ration of lettuce foliage progressively increased with successively higher NaCl concentration of composts. With an increase of NaCl concentration of composts, the values of ESP and exchangeable sodium concentration in the surface soil were significantly increased. Especially, ESP of surface soil in the treatment incorporated with 9% NaCl-containing compost after the harvest attained by about 15, suggesting that sodification of surface soil under a greenhouse condition can occur when the compost over 9% NaCl is applied to soil. In conclusion, the application of over 3% NaCl-containing compost at the rates of $20Mg\;ha^{-1}$ can cause undesirable influences in plant growth and also the treatments of over 6% NaCl-containing composts can create conspicuous deteriorations in soil chemical properties in the current year.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2016

This study was conducted to elucidate the cultural and pathogenic characteristics of Cladosporium cucumerinum PT1 and resistance of 81 commercial cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). Cucumber leaves and fruits appeared as scab were collected from a plastic film house located in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-province, Korea in late March, 2015. A casual fungus was isolated from the diseased fruits on potato dextrose agar and it was identified as C. cucumerinum PT1 based on the morphological characteristics. To find out the effect of wounding and fruit size on the development of cucumber scab, small (<10 cm long), medium (10 to 20 cm long), and large (>20 cm long, commercially mature fruit) size cucumber fruits were harvested, C. cucumerinum PT1 pathogens were inoculated with a single droplet of suspension ($1{\times}10^5$ spores/ml) on wounded or unwounded cucumber fruits. Small fruits were completely damaged with showing severe water-soaking symptoms and fast pathogen growth regardless of wounded or unwounded. Meanwhile slight water-soaking symptoms on medium and large size fruits occurred and disease development into plant tissues was observed only on wounded fruits. Disease resistance of 81 commercial cucumber cultivars was evaluated on third-stage seedlings and small fruits by inoculating suspension ($1{\times}10^5$ spores/ml) of C. cucumerinum PT1. As a result, mini and pickling cultivar groups were resistant, 'Cheoeumcheoreom' cultivar was symptomless and the other cultivars were resistant to medium resistant. On the other hand, most of cucumber cultivars belonging to the other groups were susceptible. Disease resistance of cucumber against cucumber scab was significantly different among cultivars and a few cucumber cultivars showed different disease resistant responses to two bioassay methods using seedlings and small fruits. Therefore, to screen scab resistance in cucumber, a test using both fruits and seedlings is advisable. We think that the selected resistant cultivars can be used to control cucumber scab effectively under the farmhouse condition.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.781-796
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of no-tillage and split irrigation on the growth of pepper plant under green house condition in Jeonnam province. Moisture content of soil at whole quantity irrigation in tillage was increased rapidly regardless of soil depth for initial irrigation and then was decreased continuously until next irrigation. Deviation of moisture content in soil was decreased with increasing depth of soil. Moisture contents of top soil and subsoil (20 cm) at whole quantity irrigation in no-tillage were increased with sunrise, and then decreased with sunset. Moisture contents of top soil in tillage, and top soil and subsoil (20 cm) in no-tillage at half quantity irrigation indicated a cyclic diurnal variation by evapotranspiration. Salinity of soil was increased after initial irrigation and then was decreased continuously until next irrigation. With increasing depth of soil, increases of salinity in soil was delayed. Salinity of top soil in no-tillage was increased between AM 11:00 and AM 12:00, and then showed the highest level between PM 2:00 and PM 6:00 on a cyclic diurnal variation by evapotranspiration. Salinity of subsoil (30 cm) in no-tillage was not measured a cyclic diurnal variation. Moisture content and salinity of soil was positive correlation regardless of tillage and no-tillage cultivation. Growth of pepper in no-tillage cultivation was higher than that in tillage cultivation. Main branch Length and stem diameter of half quantity irrigation plot was higher than that of whole quantity irrigation plot regardless of tillage and no-tillage cultivation. After harvesting, the number of pepper fruits of half quantity irrigation plot was increased remarkably by 49% and 47%, in tillage and no-tillage cultivation, respectively. Pepper yield of no-tillage cultivation plot was higher by 8% than that of tillage cultivation plot. Pepper yield of half quantity irrigation plot was increased remarkably by 36% and 39%, in tillage and no-tillage cultivation, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 2008

Small lysimeter experiment under rain shelter plastic film house was conducted to investigate the effect of soil characteristics on the leaching and soil solution concentration of nitrate and phosphate. Three soils were obtained from different agricultural sites of Korea: Soil A (mesic family of Typic Dystrudepts), Soil B (mixed, mesic family of Typic Udifluvents), and Soil C (artificially disturbed soils under greenhouse). Organic-C contents were in the order of Soil C ($32.4g\;kg^{-1}$) > Soil B ($15.0g\;kg^{-1}$) > Soil A ($8.1g\;kg^{-1}$). Inorganic-N concentration also differed significantly among soils, decreasing in the order of Soil B > Soil C > Soil A. Degree of P saturation (DPS) of Soil C was 178%, about three and fifteen times of Soil B (38%) and Soil A (6%). Prior to treatment, soils in lysimeters (dia. 300 mm, soil length 450 mm) were tabilized by repeated drying and wetting procedures for two weeks. After urea at $150kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ and $KH_2PO_4$ at $100kg\;P_2O_5\;ha^{-1}$ were applied on the surface of each soil, total volume of irrigation was 213 mm at seven occasions for 65 days. At 13, 25, 35, 37, and 65 days after treatment, soil solution was sampled using rhizosampler at 10, 20, and 30 cm depth and leachate was sampled by free drain out of lysimeter. The volume of leachate was the highest in Soil C, and followed by the order of Soils A and B, whereas the amount of leached nitrate had a reverse trend, i.e. Soil B > Soil A > Soil C. Soil A and B had a significant increase of the nitrate concentration of soil solution at depth of 10 cm after urea-N treatment, but Soil C did not. High nitrate mobility of Soil B, compared to other soils, is presumably due to relatively high clay content, which could induce high extraction of nitrate of soil matrix by anion exclusion effect and slow rate of water flow. Contrary to Soil B, high organic matter content of Soil C could be responsible for its low mobility of nitrate, inducing preferential flow by water-repellency and rapid immobilization of nitrate by a microbial community. Leached phosphate was detected in Soil C only, and continuously increased with increasing amount of leachate. The phosphate concentration of soil solution in Soil B was much lower than in Soil C, and Soil A was below detection limit ($0.01mg\;L^{-1}$), overall similar to the order of degree of P saturation of soils. Phosphate mobility, therefore, could be largely influenced by degree of P saturation of soils but connect with apparent leaching loss only more than any threshold of P accumulation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Organic Agriculture Conference
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• 2009.12a
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• pp.77-101
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• 2009

Organic farming in Korea has mainly focused on producing vegetables in plastic film house and cereals in paddy field. For high productivity of vegetables and cereals, most Korean farmers have not applied crop rotation in the cropping system. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the effects of crop rotation on the yield of red pepper and green onion, the changes in soil fertility and the potential as green manure of rye and hairy vetch. Rye and hairy vetch were cultivated for winter season every year, and directly incorporated into the soil. The yield of red pepper fruits in organic farming using crop rotation (OFCR) decreased 23 to 36% compared with conventional farming system (CFS). Whereas, green onion showed the increased yield of about 13%. In OFCR, total carbon content of soil was higher, however available phosphate content lower than conventional farming. As a result of measuring the bulk density of soil, OFCR and CFS were 1.26 to $1.35Mg/m^3$ and 1.37 to $1.42Mg/m^3$, respectively. Carbon and nitrogen contents of microbial biomass in OFCR were obviously higher compared with the CFS. In the plot cultivated rye for winter season, the weed germination was strongly reduced (about 52 %). Balance of macro nutrient elements, nitrogen and phosphate, in the application of rye and hairy vetch had a minus value. For potassium, the output value was higher than the input one, therefore organic farming under red pepper-rye or hairy vetch systems requires applying additional potassium input. Also, we selected two hairy vetch varieties of cv. Hungvillosa and Ostsaat which can be adapt at Korea climate. In order to estimate a yield of green manures, the weight of shoot and root was measured. The ratio of shoot and root between rye and hairy vetch showed 0.88 and 1.91, respectively. The potential levels of nitrogen, phosphate and potassium which could be supplied from rye were 7.7, 7.8 and 21.9 kg/10a and from hairy vetch were 17.0, 8.6 and 22.9 kg/10a, respectively. So we recommend that cultivating hairy vetch, as a nutrient supplier, and rye, as an amendment to enhance the soil physical property, for winter season be practical method in Korea organic farming system.