• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2010

This study was conducted to determine effects of soil pH and form of nitrogen fertilizers on tomato growth and chemical properties of greenhouse soil using ferigation system. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Superdoterang) were grown for three months in 18 L pots filled with two soil (pH 6.8 and pH 8.7). 4 different nitrogen fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, and potassium nitrate) were fertigated with different concentrations of 0, 10, 50, and 100 mg N/L during tomato cultivation. Soil pH 8.7 decreased yield and chlorophyll fluorescence compared with soil pH 6.8. Yield at soil pH 8.7 increased by ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate fertigation. Soil pH 6.8 induced increment of yield by nitrogen concentration than form of nitrogen fertilizers. Soil pH after cultivation of tomato decreased by application of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. Soil EC by 100 mg N/L application of ammonium sulfate was twice as much as other fertilizers. Form of nitrogen fertilizer had less effect on concentration of soil $NH_4^+$-N and $NO_3^-$-N in soil but the concentrations slightly reduced at pH 8.7. These results indicate that application of urea and ammonium nitrate for a nitrogen source of fertigation has little affects on soil chemical properties before and after tomato cultivation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.910-919
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• 2012

The role of inorganic nitrogen assimilation in the production of amino acids, organic acids and soluble sugars is one of the most important biochemical processes in plants, and, in order to achieve normally, nitrate uptake and assimilation is essential. For this reason, the characterization of nitrate assimilation and metabolite composition from leaves, roots and xylem sap of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) was investigated under different nitrate levels in media. Tomato plants were grown hydroponically in liquid culture under five different nitrate regimes: deficient (0.25 and 0.75 mM $NO_3{^-}$), normal (2.5 mM $NO_3{^-}$) and excessive (5.0 and 10.0 mM $NO_3{^-}$). All samples, leaves, roots and xylem sap, were collected after 7 and 14 days after treatment. The levels of amino acids, soluble sugars and organic acids were significantly decreased by N-deficiency whereas, interestingly, they remained higher in xylem sap as compared with N-normal and -surplus. The N-excessive condition did not exert any significant changes in metabolites composition, and thus their levels were similar with N-normal. The gene expression and enzyme activity of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NIR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were greatly influenced by nitrate. The data presented here suggest that metabolites, as a signal messenger, existed in xylem sap seem to play a crucial role to acquire nitrate, and, in addition, an increase in ${\alpha}$-ketoglutarate pathway-derived amino acids under N-deficiency may help to better understand plant C/N metabolism.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.96-108
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• 2011

Several methods of in-field measurements of Nitrogen and other soil properties using cores extracted by a hydraulic soil sampler were evaluated. A prototype core scanner was built to accommodate Veris Technologies commercial Vis-NIRS equipment. The testing result for pH, P and Mg were close to RPD (Ratio of Prediction to Deviation = Standard deviation/RMSE) of 2, however the scanner could not achieve the goal of RPD of 2 on some other properties, especially on nitrate nitrogen ($NO_3$) and potassium (K). In situ NIRS/EC probe showed similar results to the core scanner; pH, P and Mg were close to RPD of 2, while $NO_3$ and K were RPD of 1.5 and 1.2, respectively. Correlations between estimations using the probe and the core scanner were strong, with $r^2$ > 0.7 for P, Mg, Total N, Total C and CEC. Preliminary results for mid-IR spectroscopy showed an $r^2$ of 0.068 and an RMSE for nitrate (N) of 18 ppm, even after the removal of calcareous samples and possible N outlier. After removal of calcareous samples on a larger sample set, results improved considerably with an $r^2$ of 0.64 and RMSE of 6 ppm. However, this was only possible after carbonate samples were detected and eliminated, which would not be feasible under in-field measurements. Testing of $NO_3$ and K ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) revealed promising results, with acceptable errors measuring soil solutions containing nitrate and potassium levels that are typical of production agriculture fields.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2007

This study was carried out to establish the reasonable level of nitrogen (N) fertilization based on soil nitrate nitrogen $(NO_3-N)$ content for cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under plastic film house. Cucumber plants were cultivated with standard and free N fertilization in eight soils which had various amount of $NO_3-N$ ranging from 67 to 343 mg/kg. The yield of cucumber was in the range of 1006 to 2369 g/plant depending on the nitrogen supplying capability of soils. The amount of $NO_3-N$ in the soil was negatively correlated with agronomic efficiency (AE) and N use efficiency (NUE). The critical level of soil $NO_3-N$ content for cucumber in N free fertilization was found to be about 260 mg/kg in Cate-Nelson analysis of variance between soil $NO_3-N$ and AE or NUE. Also the same critical soil $NO_3-N$ content was found in the yield and amount of N uptake of cucumber under N free fertilization. A standard N fertilization was required when soil $NO_3-N$ content was below 70 mg/kg. The optimal application rate of N fertilizer for cucumber in the soils containing $NO_3-N$ between 260-70 mg/kg could be recommended by the equation Y=-1.032X+269.2 (Y: N fertilization rate, kg/ha; X : soil $NO_3-N$ content mg/kg).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2005

The procedure of soil sampling for on-farm quick test of soil nitrate is very important to improve practical application without weighing or drying soil. To improve application of test strip reflectometer as a quick on-farm analytical procedure for the estimation of soil nitrate concentration, three sampling methods such as gravimetric sampling (GS), particle density sampling (PDS) and bulk density sampling (BDS) for on-farm analytical procedure were investigated with twelve soils of 45 to $281mg\;kg^{-1}$ nitrate nitrogen concentration. The nitrate nitrogen concentrations measured from different soils were compared with two analytical methods, ion electrode method as a standard laboratory analysis (SLA) and test strip reflectometer at three moisture conditions, viz. air dried soil, 20 and 40% of maximum water holding capacity (MWHC). Nitrate nitrogen concentration measured by test strip reflectometer was significantly correlated with that of SLA, and the coefficients of variation (CV) were in the range of 3.5 to 10.9%. These CV values less than 10.9% were thought to be acceptable for the measurement of soil nitrate as an on-farm real time analytical procedure. The nitrate nitrogen concentration by BDS for test strip reflectometer as well as ion electrode method was more similar to that of SLA compared with those by GS and PDS especially in case of moist soils. This result suggests that the BDS is more useful than GS and PDS in case of on-farm analytical procedure of soil nitrate for moist soils. Further the practical measurement by BDS could be improved by substituting the bottle cap with a larger container.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.574-587
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• 2017

Excessive application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to support switchgrass growth for bioenergy production may cause adverse environmental effects. The objective of this study was to determine optimum N application rate to increase biomass yield of switchgrass and to reduce adverse environmental effects related to N. Switchgrass was planted in May 2008 and biomass yield, N uses of switchgrass, nitrate ($NO_3$) leaching, and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emission were evaluated from 2010 through 2011. Total N removal significantly increased with N rate despite the fact that yield did not increased with above $56kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ of N rate. Apparent nitrogen recoveries were 4.81 and 5.48% at 56 and $112kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ of N rate, respectively. Nitrogen use efficiency decreased into half with increasing N rate from 56 to $112kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$. Nitrate leaching and $N_2O$ emission were related to N use of switchgrass. There was no significant difference of cumulative $NO_3$ leaching between 0 and $56kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ but, it significantly increased at $112kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$. There was no significant difference of cumulative $N_2O$ emission among N rates in crest, but it significantly increased at $112kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in toe. Excessive N application rate (above $56kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$) beyond plant requirement could accelerate $NO_3$ leaching and $N_2O$ emission in switchgrass field. Overall, $56kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ might be optimum N application rate in reducing economic waste on N fertilizer and adverse environmental impacts.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1991

The purpose of the experiment was to determine the effect of nitrogen sources (urea, ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate) and potassium sources (potassium chloride, potassium sulphate) on the growth and quality of Zoysia japonica Steud. This experiment was conducted at Seoul City University turf field from 1988 to 1989. The results of this experiment were summarized as follows; 1. Urea and Ammonium sulphate resulted in superior clipping yield compared to ammonium nitrate. The growth of rhizome and stolon increased significantly with urea forms, but ammonium sulphate treated plots exhibited the highest the growth rate of root. 2. Ammonium sulphate showed best turf color rating while ammonium nitrate resulted in the poorest. Prolongation of the green period showed longer in ammonium sulphate and urea treated plots than ammoium nitrate. 3. Urea and ammonium sulphate exhibited superior visible quality and shoot density compared to ammonium nitrate. 4. The uptake of mineral nutrient showed the highest concentration with urea plots. Surface soil pH was allowed to become slightly acid with the ammonium sulphate and potassium sulphate treatments, while the application of N and K sources did not cause significant differences in mineral element content in soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.209-212
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• 2000

As a bench-scale study, transformation of nitrate to nitrogen gas under anoxic condition was determined by using autotrophic denitrifiers containing Thiobacillus denitrificans and elemental sulfur as an electron donor. The research objective is to measure the basic kinetic parameters of autotrophic denitrification reaction on the removal efficiency of nitrate. The results showed that nitrate was almost completely transformed to nitrite in the first 4 days of column operation. After 2 days of accumulation of nitrite, its concentration slowly decreased and the compound was detected less than 0.5 mg/L in 14 days. In the experiment, sulfate concentration in the effluent was the 70~90 mg-S/L and the pH was maintained around pH 7.5. When nitrate concentration of bank filtrate in the real field is considered, this sulfate concentration seems to be acceptable. At 17 cm from the bottom of the column, the effluent showed the highest nitrite concentration, and nitrate concentration decreased rapidly to the Point of 33 cm from the bottom. The results suggest that an appropriate thickness of permeable reactive barriers is about 30 cm.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.97-110
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• 2000

An organic agriculture should be managed by mixed farming in farm unit as a closed recycling system. Due to restricted purchased of fertilizers from outside, organic farmer has to deal with limited amount of nutrient source in farm unit. Especially the supply of the essential nutrient, nitrogen, mostly depends on legumes fixing nitrogen optimizing the site-adapted crop rotation. Dynamics of humus and metabolic plant carbon and active soil carbon compartment in active and passive humuspool by rotation system was explained, and dynamics of potentially mineralizable nitrogen in organic nitrogen and biomass was discussed. It was also discussed comparison of ammonia emission, potential greenhouse effect, primary energy input, acidification potential, CO2 emission between organic and conventional farming, the nitrate-nitrogen dynamic in the soil profile by organic, integrated and conventional farming system. In conclusion, it was suggested for Korean Organic Agriculture that the importance of legumes and green manures in rotation system for increase/maintenance of soil ferfility, and was pointed out the need of investment for environment impact of Korean organic farming implement.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the effects of soil incorporation of hairy vetch (HV) or ryeas a green manure on the growth and yields of watermelon and soil nitrate nitrogen in a green house.. METHODS AND RESULTS: HV and rye were cultivated for 151 days after sowing on October 30th and incorporated into soil before transplanting watermelon. The amount of N added by soil incorporation of HV and rye were 79 kg/ha and 88 kg/ha, respectively. Five different N treatments for each of HV and rye were included as follows: green manure, green manure with urea at 25%, 50%or 75%, and 100% ureafor the N recommendation rate. The growth and fruit yield of watermelon were not different among the treatments of both HV and rye. Soil nitrate N content at both HV and rye treatments decreased continuously with the lapse of days after planting (DAP) and was lowest at 75 DAP: 44 mg/kg and 52 mg/kg the for the HV and rye treatment without urea, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the N mineralized from the soil incorporated HV or rye accounts for an important portion of N available for the growth and fruit yield of watermelon. It can be suggested that the green manures, comparable to ureacould ensure the yield of watermelon, if soil nitrate N content isabove 40 mg/kg by soil incorporation of HV and rye during watermelon cultivation. However, further studies on the relationship between soil nitrate N content during cultivation periods and the fruit yield of watermelon are required.