• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Global population is expected to reach nine billion in 2050 and the total demand for food is expected to increase approximately by 60 percent by 2050 as compared to 2005. Therefore, it is important to increase crop production in order to meet the global demand for food. Slow release fertilizers have been developed and designed in order to improve the efficiency of fertilizers. Mineral-based slow release fertilizers are useful because the minerals have a crystalline structure and are environmentally friendly in a soil. This review focuses on slow release fertilizers based on montmorillonite, zeolite, and layered double hydroxide phases as a host for nutrients, especially N. Urea was successfully stabilized in the interlayer space of montmorillonite by the formation of urea-Mg or Ca complex, $[(Urea)_6Mg\;or\;Ca]^{2+}$ protecting its rapid degradation in soils. Naturally occurring zeolites occluded with ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate by molten salt treatment could be used as slow release fertilizer because the occlusion process increased the capacity of zeolites to store nutrients in addition to exchangeable cations. Additionally, surface-modified zeolites could also be used as slow release fertilizer because the modified surface showed high affinity for anionic nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate. Moreover, there were attempts to develop and use synthetic layered double hydroxide as a carrier of nitrate because it has positively charged layers which electrostatically bond nitrate anions. Kaolin was also tested by combining with a polymer or through the mechanical-chemical process for slow release of nutrients.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.118-129
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• 2021

The sediment transportation caused by soil erosion due to rainfall-discharge in the large watershed scale plays critical role in human society. The relationship between rainfall-discharge-sediment transportation is depending on the start time of rainfall and end of rainfall but, the studies related with rainfall characteristics are insufficient. In this study, The Soil and Water Assession Tool (SWAT) model was used to study the relationship between rainfall-discharge-sediment transportation at the Sook river watershed which is monitored by the Ministry of Environment. To do this, first of all, the sensitivity analysis about model attributes was performed using monitored data. The accuracy analysis of SWAT model was conducted using the model's efficiency index (Nash and Sutcliffe model efficiency; NSE) and the coefficient of determination (R²). After that, it was studied what results could be obtained according to changes in rainfall timing and end points. In the result of discharge simulation, the modified rainfall values (sum of total rainfall starting time and end time) showed more high accuracy values (R²:0.90, NSE: 0.8) than original rainfall values (R²:0.76, NSE: 0.72). In the result of sediment transportation simulation, during calibration had more resonable results(R²:0.87, NSE: 0.86) than compared with original rainfall values (R²:0.44, NSE: 0.41). However, validation results of sediment transportation simulation showed low accuracy values compared with calibration results. This results maybe cause monitoring periods of sediment flow compared with discharge monitoring periods. Nevertheless, since rainfall characteristic plays critical rule in model results, continuous research on rainfall characteristic is needed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.577-590
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• 2024

With increasing demand for nuclear power generation, nuclear structures are being planned and constructed worldwide. A grave safety concern is that these structures are sensitive to large-magnitude shaking, e.g., during earthquakes. Seismic response analysis, which requires P- and S-wave velocities, is a key element in nuclear structure design. Accordingly, it is important to determine the P- and S-wave velocities in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions of South Korea, which are home to nuclear power plants and have a history of seismic activity. P- and S-wave velocities can be obtained indirectly through a correlation with physical properties (e.g., N values, Young's modulus, and uniaxial compressive strength), and researchers worldwide have proposed regression equations. However, the Gyeongju and Pohang regions of Korea have not been considered in previous studies. Therefore, a database was constructed for these regions. The database includes physical properties such as N values and P- and S-wave velocities of the soil layer, as well as the uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, and P- and S-wave velocities of the bedrock layer. Using the constructed database, the geological characteristics and distribution of physical properties of the study region were analyzed. Furthermore, models for predicting P- and S-wave velocities were developed for soil and bedrock layers in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions. In particular, the model for predicting the S-wave velocity for the soil layers was compared with models from previous studies, and the results indicated its effectiveness in predicting the S-wave velocity for the soil layers in the Gyeongju and Pohang regions using the N values. The proposed models for predicting P- and S-wave velocities will contribute to predicting the damage caused by earthquakes.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 2018

In soil washing, there are many variables including types of reagent and contaminant, washing time, soil-liquid ratio, washing cycles, washing agent concentrations, and etc. To identify the most influencing factors on soil washing process, regression analysis was performed for eight single variables and five combined variables. A quantitative model that employs W/H (molar ratio of washing agent to heavy metal) as a major variable was established based on the regression. The validity of the model was demonstrated by conducting lab experiments with Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and As-contaminated soils, and various washing reagents including acetic acid, citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and nitriloacetic acid (NTA). The washing efficiencies were compared with the EDTA washing data reported in the literature. The correlation between W/H and removal efficiency was analyzed after dividing data into two groups according to the heavy metal mobility.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.779-786
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• 2012

Many farmers have been seeking alternatives to chemical fertilizer for successful organic fruit production. This experiment was carried out to investigate the replaceability of chemical fertilizer by cover crop and slurry composting biofiltration (SCB) liquid manure (LM) application in pear orchard. Three treatments were contained in this experiment; cover crop only and cover crop + LM treatment, and control (chemical fertilizer application). Dry weight and mineral contents of gramineous cover crops were significantly increased in LM-combined treatments than that of leguminous species. Bulk density of soil was decreased in rye + LM and hairy vetch + LM treatments, compared with each cover crop treatment. Soil pH was lowest in fertilizer treatment and soil nitrate content became similar between treatments after rainy season. Available soil phosphate was lower in cover crop and cover crop + LM treatmemts than control, but exchangeable Mg was higher. The mineral content and net assimilation rate of leaves showed no difference between the treatments. As a result, it is suggested that the application of SCB liquid manure in pear orchard managed by cover crops is desirable to maintain the productivity by improving soil physical properties and potential nutrient recovery.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.471-477
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• 2010

Although the roles of calcium in plant are widely known, little is known about on an antagonistic effect of macro elements, oxalate biosynthesis and main shape of crystal in cucumber plant organs. Seeds of cucumber (Cucumis sativus cv. Ijoeunbackdadagi) were germinated in perlite tray supplied with distilled-deionized water. Seedlings were transplanted into aerated containers with a half strength of Ross nutrient solution. Ca levels treated in media were as follows; No-Ca, $Ca(NO_3)_2$ 0.25, 1.25 and 2.5 mmol $L^{-1}$, and $Ca(NO_3)_2$ 2.5 mmol $L^{-1}$ + $CaCl_210$, 25 and 50 mmol $L^{-1}$. Ca-deficient and -excessive conditions severely reduced cucumber growth, as compared to the control, and adversely affected an accumulation of macro elements (N, P, K, and Mg). Calcium favorably induced oxalate (acid-soluble) synthesis in leaves and roots of cucumber plant, but not in stem. Acid-soluble oxalate contents in leaves proportionally increased with Ca supply levels (0.91, P<0.001), however, this pattern was not observed in stem and roots. Ca-oxalate crystal formation and compositional analysis were examined using SEM-EDS technique in cucumber leaves. The main type of crystal revealed a prismatic crystal and main components were Ca, Na and Cl.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2011

The growth, yield and quality of Sedum sarmentosum between soil and hydroponic cultivation were compared to produce high-quality shoots in summer season. The plants were collected from four places in Korea and cultivated in a plastic film house with 50% shading. A 1:1:1 mixtures of sand, upland soil and substrate (N-P-K: 330-220-400 $mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) was used for soil cultivation, and a nutrient film technique (NFT) with Yamazaki-lettuce nutrient solution used for hydroponics. After 30 days of cultivation, plant height ranged from 18.4 to 21.8 cm and showed no significant difference between soil and hydroponic cultivation. Number of shoot, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaf, fresh weight, and dry weight significantly increased in hydroponics compared to those in soil cultivation. Fresh and dry weights in hydroponics were greater in 'Gunsan' and 'Wando' collections than those in other collections. Stem diameter and compression-force significantly increased in soil cultivation rather than hydroponics with significant differences among collections. However there were no significant differences in shoot bitterness and vitamin C content between cultivation methods or among the collections. Most mineral contents except Fe in hydroponics were higher than those in soil cultivation. K, Na, Zn contents in hydroponics were over 2 times higher than those in soil cultivation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.185-190
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• 2005

In this study, a probabilistic prediction model for debris flow occurrence was developed using a logistic regression analysis. The model can be applicable to metamorphic rocks and granite area. In order to develop the prediction model, detailed field survey and laboratory soil tests were conducted both in the northern and the southern Gyeonggi province and in Sangju, Gyeongbuk province, Korea. The six landslide triggering factors were selected by a logistic regression analysis as well as several basic statistical analyses. The six factors consist of two topographic factors and four geological and geotechnical factors. The model assigns a weight value to each selected factor. The verification results reveal that the model has 86.5% of prediction accuracy. Therefore, it is possible to predict landslide occurrence in a probabilistic and quantitative manner.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.106-113
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• 2015

Effects of mineral salts (N, P, K, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, and $Fe^{3+}$) on the shoot growth and metabolite production of tea tree were studied using in vitro culture techniques. Among mineral s alts, ${H_2PO_4}^-$ was the most important for enhanced growth rate of tea tree, while $Mg^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ did not affect plant growth. Removal of ${NH_4}^+$ and $NO_3$ from the culture medium enhanced shoot multiplication compared to other treatments. Metabolite production was variable depending on mineral types and concentration. Removal of $Ca^{2+}$ decreased the production of caffeine; however, other treatments did not influence its production. $Ca^{2+}$, ${NH_4}^+$ and $Fe^{3+}$ were important factors for catechin production in tea tree. These results can be used as the basis for development of technical soil controls suitable for tea tree cultivation in the future.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.625-636
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• 2022

The standard penetration test (SPT) obtaining the N value of the number of blows has been widely used in various subsurface conditions, including in weathered soil and rock on fresh bedrock, in geotechnical studies pertaining to the design of foundations and earth structures. This study examined the applicability of SPTs terminated conventionally after 50 blows for a penetration of less than 30 cm, particularly in weathered strata, at four sites in Korea. The N values obtained during practical SPTs are typically extrapolated linearly at 30 cm penetration, despite the possibility of a nonlinear relationship between blow counts and penetration. Such nonlinearity in weathered strata has been verified by performing special SPTs ensuring 30 cm penetration. To quantify the nonlinearity in dense strata, we conducted statistical regression analyses comparing the differences (DN) between the N values measured by the special SPTs and those extrapolated using the practical approach with the differences (DP) between the 30 cm penetration and the penetration during 50 blows. Bi-linear relationship models between DN and DP were subsequently proposed for determining the N values at 30 cm penetration in weathered strata. The N values reflecting nonlinearity could be determined from the linearly extrapolated N values by adding a modeled DN value.