• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 1998

The root-zone environment is an important factor to the plant growth and it is closely related to the thermal characteristics of the root media. In this study thermal characteristics of root media with ambient environmental conditions were analyzed. The temperatures of nutrient solution as well as inside air of culture bed were measured in Nutrient Film Technique(NFT) and Deep Flow Technique(DFT) systems, and also the temperatures of root media measured in aggregate culture systems , The temperature of nutrient solution of NFT system with as low as 3$\ell$/min of flow rate was 3$^{\circ}C$ higher than that with 5 $\ell$/min of flow rate in the daytime, and the temperature of inside air was 2$^{\circ}C$ higher at night. And the temperature of nutrient solution of DFT system with as low as 0.8 cm of water level was 1-2$^{\circ}C$ higher than that with 1 8 cm in the daytime, and the temperature of inside air was almost same at night. The root-zone temperatures in the perlite and rockwool granulate systems with film mulching were 3$^{\circ}C$ higher than those without film mulching in the daytime. However, the rockwool slab system with film mulching showed the same trend as rockwool granulate system, but relatively higher temperature than any other medium because of the exposure of media surface to the ambient air. Additionally the temperature below the plant was measured 3$^{\circ}C$ lower than that between plants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1999

$N(^{15}N)$ and $P(^{32}P)$ absorption by 2 year-old Cymbidium Jungfrau in solution culture were investigated. Growth, photosynthesis rate, chlorophyll content and mineral composition of Cymbidium in the solution culture with bark or granular rockwool were compared with these parameters in the conventional pot culture. Nitrogen absorption by Cymbidium was higher in full sunlight than in 60% of sunlight while P absorption was higher in 60% of sunlight. Sixty seven % of N absorbed in plant was redistributed to the bulb(39%) and leaves(28%) while 46% of P absorbed was fund in the bulb (36.2%) and leaves (10.2%). Accumulation of P in leaves was 3-fold lower than that of N. N and P absorption in 0.5 or 1 year- old daughter plant Bowing vigorously were greater than in immature daughter or mother plant. The absorption rate of phosphorus in Cymbidium was 350-fold lower than that of barley. Greater shoot length and bulb diameter, and higher fresh weight, photosynthesis rate and chloroployll content were observed in the solution culture than in the conventional pot culture. Solution culture had-also more content of N, P, K and Mg in leaves, bulb and root than conventional pot culture but did not that of Ca. A large part of the nutrient absorption was occurred during vegetative growth. Also, There was no difference between bark and rockwool in the solution culture due to the improvement of poor dispersion of nutrient solution in bark.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.210-215
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 1998

This study was conducted to clarify the effects of various rhizobacteria in the root zone in terms of Azospirillum sp., Rhodopseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas sp., fusant of Bacillus sp. and Corynebacterium glutamicum on the growth of hydroponically grown cucumber plants. Densities in bacterial cells of fusant of Bacillus sp. and Corynebacterium glutamicum at different substrates were in the order of cocopeat > rockwool > nutrient solutions at 4 days after bacterialization. Plant growth promoting effects of the various rhizobacteria on the growth of hydroponically grown cucumber plants were in the order of Azospirillum sp. > Rhodopseudomonas sp. $\ge$ fusant of Bacillus sp. and Corynebacterium glutamicum > Pseudomonas sp. > control.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2003

Rockwool slabs used for hydroponic cultures are expected to have potential to be reused after breakdown as a growing medium component for hydroponic culture of vegetables and cut flowers, pot plants, or plug plants. This study was conducted to test the feasibility of using particles of used rockwool slabs (PURS) mixed with woodchips for growing plug seedlings of ‘Nokkufang’ pepper. In the first experiment growth of pepper seedlings was tested in media of steam sterilized PURS mixed with chestnut woodchips (CW), which was weatherized for six months and screened through 2.8 mm or 5.6 mm sieves, at 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 28:75 or 0:100 (%, v/v). In the second experiment growth of pepper seedlings was tested in 20 different media containing steam sterilized PURS mixed with 4 mm chestnut woodchips (CW), 4 mm pinc woodchips (PW), coir, peatmoss, or perlite. In the first experiment, there were no significant growth differences as affectcd by particle size of CW, while the overall best growth was achieved il1 the control and l00% PURS. In the second experiment, seedling growth was enhanced as compared to the control in 100% PURS or PURS mixed with peatmoss, coir, or perlite. In contrast, growth was suppressed as the proportion of peatmoss or coir mixed with PURS decreased and the proportion of CW increased. Growth was better in the PURS + peatmoss than in the 100% PURS or PURS + coir, and when woodchips were mixed with coir than peatmoss.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 1993

This study was carried out to investigate the appropriate hydroponic system when cherry tomatoes were grown in summer. The base diameter of the trunk, leaf length, leaf width, and the length of cluster were good in deep flow culture(DFC), and not different between NFT and rockwool culture. The first time of flowering and the fruit coloring per cluster were not different among cultural systems, but the marketable yields were good in DFC. In DFC, ％ dry weight, firmness, the content of organic acid and sugar were low, and the ratio of sugar/organic acid and vitamin C were high. So DFC is recommended for the summer cultivation of cherry tomatoes.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 1997

This experiments comparisons were conducted to establish the effective sap analytical method including quantitative analysis of nitrate and phosphorous, sap extraction method, extraction rate, macerating time and sampling position. Earl's Favorite muskmelon was sown on February 11th, 1993 and transplanted to rockwool slab when three to fourth true leaf appeared. Non-circulating system was employed in this experiment. Sap testing using a sample provides an immediate analysis of nutritional status of the crop and potential problems can be recognized and corrective measures taken. Some methods were recommended UV-spectroscopy for the analysis of nitrate nitrogen, Vanad molybdenium acid method for phosphorous. Optimal extraction rate of sample to water was determined as one to four and the best result observed at 60seconds in macerating duration. Further trials would be requested about sampling time due to the difference according to the sampling time. Given sampling position was favorable for the sap analysis.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2015

To improve crop productivity with optimal water management in soilless culture, the information of physical characteristics of the root medium including water behavior should be required. The objectives of this study were to analyze the physical characteristics including hydraulic properties of the root media commercially used and to analyze the relationships between actual moisture content and measured one by FDR sensor. The weight of the medium was measured by load cell for calculating the actual moisture content. The accuracy of the moisture content measured by FDR sensor was obtained by comparing with the actual one. The water holding capacity of the coir was lower than those of the rockwool due to the features of large and rough particles of the coir. The moisture content measured by FDR sensor showed large difference from the actual moisture contents measured by loadcell, indicating that the calibration of FDR sensor is needed before starting measurement. The optimum range of moisture content for irrigation control was narrow in the coir than the rockwool due to the lower water holding capacity and rehydration capability of the coir. The results of this study can be useful in establishing adequate irrigation strategies in the soilless culture.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 1997

This study was conducted to select useful medium material as a replacement for the rockwool in long term bag-culture of sweet pepper. The sole use of perlite and carbonized rice hull(CRH) as well as their mixture with various combinations were compared to the rockwool. The results are summarized as the followings : 1. Plant height and number of leaves did not significantly differ among media. However, in the mixture of CRH(1) : Perlite(1), stem diameter was thicker; plant weight and root weight were heavier, and T/R ratio was lower. 2. Although fruit length and number of fruits did not significantly differ among media, the mixture of CRH(1) : Perlite(1) provided longer fruit length, more fruits, heavier fruit weight, and greater yield. 3. Monthly yield was continuously increased from the first harvest in November to the harvest in May next year. The amount of increase in the fruit yield of the mixture of CRH(1) : Perlite(1) from the first harvest to the final harvest was significantly greater than the amount of increase of other media. 4. The amount of total nitrogen and phosphate was higher in mixture of CRH (1) : Perlite(1), while the amount of other elements did not significantly differ among mixtures.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2007

This experiment was carried out to develop the substrate mixtures for the production of high quality plug seedlings of cucumber. Peatmoss based substrates, rice hull, carbonized rice hull, decomposed sawdust, perlite and granular rockwool were mixed by five different mixing ratioes (M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5). The cultivars used were cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Janghyung heukjinju) plants. The higher the content of peatmoss added, the higher the plant growth in terms of plant height, leaf area and total dry weight, which leading to the production of high quality plug seedlings. Seedlings growth of cucumber were greater in M5 mixtures [peatmoss:rice hull:decomposed sawdust=40:40:20(v/v)], M4 mixtures [peatmoss:rice hull:decomposed sawdust:granular rockwool=30:25:20:25(v/v)] and M2 mixtures [peatmoss:rice hull:decomposed sawdust:granular rockwool=20:20:15:25:20(v/v)] The concentrations of nutrient solution (EC) had a great influence on plant height, leaf area, total fresh and dry weight of cucumber seedlings growth. As the concentration of nutrient solution increased from 0.1 to $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, the growth and seedling quality of cucumber in plant height, leaf area and dry weight were significantly improved.