• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1998

Root zone temperature have influenced on protected cultivation in winter season. Especially root zone temperature is acted on limiting factor in crop cultivation. This study was conducted to obtain optimum temperature of root zone in Protected cultivation Root zone was warmed by heated water($28^{\circ}C$) flowing through the PPC pipe(${\phi}15$) buried depth 40 cm. And the flowing water was heated by solar system. Minimum air temperature during night time was set at $14^{\circ}C$ and maximum air temperature during day time was set at $28~30^{\circ}C$ the growing period of cucumber was from Nov. 6, 1996 to Jan. 30, 1997. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Average soil temperature at 15~20 cm depth was $22^{\circ}C$ at warming plots, $17~18^{\circ}C$ at non-warming plots 2. Early growth in leaf length, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf area for 30 days after planting were accelerated by root zone warming. Especially, the grawing rate of soil warming plots was higher 27% in leaf length, 51% in leaf number, 150% in leaf area than non-warming Plots. Above-ground and underground part of warming plots was higher 117%, 56% than non-warming plots. 3. In total yield analysis, number of fruits were 614 in soil warming and 313 in non-warming plots. In the result, total yield of soil warming plots was increased with 196% than non-warming plots. 3. In total yield analysis. number of fruits were 614 in soil warming and 313 in non-warming plots. In the result. total yield of soil warming plots was increased with 196% than non-warming plots.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.30 no.3 s.110
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• pp.185-191
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• 2005

Importance of alternative energy has been increasing due to environmental issues and lack of fossil fuels. In addition, heating cost that occupies from 30 to $40\%$ of the total production cost in the protected cultivation sector in Korea needs to be reduced for profitability and global competition. But, study on geothermal energy to solve these problems has not been activated for Korean protected cultivation. This study was conducted to develop an optimized geothermal exchange system through fundamental test of heat transfer characteristics in soil such as thermal diffusivity, changes in soil temperature during heating and cooling operations, and restorations of soil temperature after the heater was fumed off, These issues were investigated using computer simulation for different depths. The simulated characteristics were evaluated through controlled tests. Simulated characteristics of heat transfer in the soil at different depths showed a reasonable agreement with the results of the controlled tests. All of computer simulation and controlled tests, soil temperatures changed at 10cm and 20cm distance from pipe. but don't change at more than 30cm distance. It means that distances of heat transfer of the soil ranged from 20 to 30cm a day. Based on these results, the optimum spacing between adjacent heat exchange pipes and the pitch were selected as 50 and 40cm, respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.113-120
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to monitor and assess the effects of saline irrigation water on lettuce and carrot growth in protected cultivation. One control and 4 treatments with three replications, which were differentiated according to the level of salinity in irrigated water, were employed for each vegetable to assess the effects of the irrigation with saline water. Monitoring results showed that the use of irrigation water containing above a certain level of salinity was found to cause excessive accumulation of salts in the soil as saline irrigation water increased electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium ($Na^+$) content in both lettuce and carrot soil samples, while tap water irrigation used as control decreased the salinity in the samples. The salinity higher than the threshold level of irrigation water was found to reduce the yields of lettuce and carrot, while in less than the threshold level the higher the salinity of the irrigation water increased the yields. The salinity of the irrigation water also appeared to increase the internal salinity of the plant as the $Na^+$ content in plant increased as the salinity of irrigation water increase. Increased $Na^+$ content was analyzed to be able to increase the sugar content in carrot. This study could contribute to suggest water quality criteria for safe use of saline water in protected cultivation, although long-term monitoring is needed to get more representative results.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 2007

There was no difference in total light transmissivity of covering materials. But the light transmittance of J-2 in greenhouse was by 78.25 which was higher than any other film. The high light transmittance of J-2 was come from low water condensation and dust attached in film surface. The ultraviolet light of J-3 was completely intercepted. The ultraviolet transmittance rate of others was from 62 to 76%. In no heating oriental melon cultivation, the air temperature in tunnel was 15 to $21^{\circ}C$ higher than outer, and the soil temperature in tunnel was 20 to $25^{\circ}C$ higher than outer. Air temperature and soil temperature of J-2 were higher than any other film.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.326-332
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• 2015

The effect of biodegradable mulching film on the growth and development of garlic were investigated in order to develop eco-friendly weed control techniques. The treatments included biodegradable film (Bio-De) and black (Black-PE), green (Green-PE), transparent (Trans-PE) polyethylene mulching films. Non-mulched, bare soil (Non-mulching) was used as a control. Light transmittance value among tested mulching films was the highest in Trans-PE (86.1%) followed by Bio-DE and Green-PE, and the lowest value was observed for the Black-PE (1.1%). All mulching films without exclusion elevated soil temperature, especially Trans-PE and Bio-DE compared to bare soil. Plant height and mean bulb weight were increased due to mulching films with the highest values observed for Trans-PE and Bio-DE treatments. After seven months of field application there were no significant degradation signs on PE plastic films, whereas it was easy to see horizontal cracks on the Bio-DE film surface after five month of usage.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.131-137
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of microbial fertilizers on the yields of Leaf lettuce, chemical components of soil, and the microbial floras. Six micriobial fertilizers, MPK+Husk+Palma, Husk+Palma, MPK+Compost, Compost, Bio livestock cattle system(BLCS) cattle dropping, and Tomi, were used. All of the microbial fertilizers were tend to increase yields of Leaf lettuce, especially MPK+Husk+Palma treatment was most effective. In a chemical components of soil, concentrations of K, Mg were increased with Tomi treatment, however, the other concentrations of soil chemical components were not different. In a microbial floras of soil, Tomi, Husk+Palma, and MPK+Husk+Palma treated plots increased in numbers of total bacteria and bacillus. Tomi treated plot increased in numbers of actinomycetes and fungi, also. The other microbial floras of soil were not different, however. The microbial fertilizers may affect the useful microbial floras, therefore, it would be increase yield of Leaf lettuce treated with them.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.273-279
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• 2009

This study was conducted to identify optimal concentrations of N (nitrogen) and K (Potassium) fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of melon (Cucumis melo. L) when they were grown with a fertigation culture in a greenhouse. Three strength (S) levels of fertilizers, including 1 S, 1/2S, and 1/4S were supplied N and K nutrients as using a trickle irrigation system. When the strength level of fertilizers was increased from 1/4S to 1 S, the level of EC (electronic conductivity) in soil was increased. Soil-water tension was ranged between -15 and -20kPa until fruit setting stage, whereas it was ranged between -45 and -50kPa in the later growth stages. In results, N fertilizer had effects on fruit yield and quality. A higher fruit yield was observed when plants were supplied with 1 S and 1/2S level of N fertilizer. The highest yield of marketable fruit, about 5,086kg/10a, was also observed when plants were supplied with 1/2S N fertilizer. A higher net index and sugar content of fruit was observed in the treatments of 1/2S and 1/4S level of N fertilizer compared to 1 S level. In contrast, there was no statistic difference in the yield and quality with three levels of K fertilizer. Results indicate that the 1/2S level for N and 1/4S level for K fertilizer are effective and optimal for the melon plants grown under the fertigation culture in terms of increasing fruit yield and quality and reducing the cost of fertilizers.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.279-284
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• 2011

Protected vegetable production area is greater than 26% of the total vegetable production area in Korea, and portion of protected production area is increasing for flowers and fruits. To secure stable productivity and profitability, continuous and intensive monitoring and control of protected crop production environment is critical, which is labor- and time-consuming. Failure to maintain proper environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, humidity) leads to significant damage to crop growth and quality, therefore farmers should visit or be present close to the production area. To overcome these problems, application of remote monitoring and control of crop production environment has been increasing. Wireless monitoring and control systems have used CDMA, internet, and smart phone communications. Levels of technology adoption are different for farmers' needs for their cropping systems. In this paper, potential of wireless remote monitoring of protected agricultural environment using CDMA SMS text messages was reported. Monitoring variables were outside weather (precipitation, wind direction and velocity, temperature, and humidity), inside ambient condition (temperature, humidity, $CO_2$ level, and light intensity), irrigation status (irrigation flow rate and pressure), and soil condition (volumetric water content and matric potential). Scenarios and data formats for environment monitoring were devised, tested, and compared. Results of this study would provide useful information for adoption of wireless remote monitoring techniques by farmers.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2006

Effects of exogenously foliar applied glycine betaine (GB) on the growth and contents of osmolyte in tomato seedling was investigated. Plants treated with exogenous glycine betaine induced better biomass production and plant height during chilling stress than the untreated plants. The total soluble sugar contents in GB foliar-applied plants lower than that of untreated plants 28 days after foliar application. Total water soluble protein contents in GB foliar-applied plants did not change 28 days after chilling stress. In untreated plant, it decreased rapidly in the beginning of chilling stress. Proline contents in untreated plants rapidly increased by the beginning of chilling stress, and then slightly decreased during the next 3 weeks. However proline contents in GB foliar-applied plants did not change during the 28 days chilling stress period. The results suggest that foliar application of GB is a effect methods to increase the chilling tolerance of tomato seedlings in protected cultivation system at low temperature season.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.314-320
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• 2014

Three leaf vegetables, namely green lettuce, red lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and red-veined chicory (Cichorium intybus) were grown in minigreenhouses covered with two new functional films and conventional polyethylene film (PE). Seedlings of leaf vegetables were transplanted in a plastic troughs filled with soil-perlite mixture. Two functional films were made from polyolefin (PO) material. Measurement of optical characteristics showed that polyolefin films have better transmittance for the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR, 400-700nm) and higher absorptance for the ultraviolet radiation (UV, 300-400nm) in comparison with the conventional PE film. After three months of utilization higher loss in PAR transmittance was observed for conventional PE film. Leaf vegetables growth was enhanced and yield was increased in greenhouses covered by new functional films.