• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2016

Distribution and behavior of baseline soil CO₂ were investigated in a candidate geologic CO₂ storage site in Pohang, with measuring CO₂ concentrations and carbon isotopes in the vadose zone as well as CO₂ fluxes and concentrations through ground surface. This investigation aimed to assess the baseline CO₂ levels and to build the CO₂ monitoring system before injecting CO₂. The gas in the vadose zone was collected using a peristaltic pump from the depth of 60 cm below ground surface, and stored at gas bags. Then the gas components (CO₂, O₂, N₂, CH₄) and δ¹³C_CO2 were analyzed using GC and CRDS (cavity ringdown spectroscopy) respectively in laboratory. CO₂ fluxes and CO₂ concentrations through ground surface were measured using Li-COR in field. In result, the median of the CO₂ concentrations in the vadose zone was about 3,000 ppm, and the δ¹³C_CO2 were in the wide range between −36.9‰ and −10.6‰. The results imply that the fate of CO₂ in the vadose zone was affected by soil property and vegetations. CO₂ in sandy or loamy soils originated from the respiration of microorganisms and the decomposition of C₃ plants. In gravel areas, the CO₂ concentrations decreased while the δ¹³C_CO2 increased because of the mixing with the atmospheric gas. In addition, the relation between O₂ and CO₂, N₂, and the relation between N₂/O₂ and CO₂ implied that the gases in the vadose zone dissolved in the infiltrating precipitation or the soil moisture. The median CO₂ flux through ground surface was 2.9 g/m²/d which is lower than the reported soil CO₂ fluxes in areas with temperate climates. CO₂ fluxes measured in sandy and loamy soil areas were higher (median 5.2 g/m²/d) than those in gravel areas (2.6 g/m²/d). The relationships between CO₂ fluxes and concentrations suggested that the transport of CO₂ from the vadose zone to ground surface was dominated by diffusion in the study area. In gravel areas, the mixing with atmospheric gases was significant. Based on this study result, a soil monitoring procedure has been established for a candidate geologic CO₂ storage site. Also, this study result provides ideas for innovating soil monitoring technologies.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.225-241
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• 2007

A closed flux chamber system was used for measuring major greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from tideland and/or wetland soils in estuarine area at Saemankum, Kunsan in southwestern Korea during from months of February to June 2006. Hourly averaged GHG soil emissions were measured two to three times a day during the ebb tide hours only. Site soils were analyzed for soil parameters (temperature, pH, total organic contents, N and C contents in soil) in the laboratory. Soil GHG fluxes were calculated based on the GHG concentration rate of change measured inside a closed chamber The analysis of GHG was conducted by using a Gas Chromatography (equipped with ECD/FID) at laboratory. Changes of daily, monthly GHGs' fluxes were examined. The relationships between the GHG emissions and soil chemical contents were also scrutinized with respect to gas production and consumption mechanism in the soil. Soil pH was pH $7.47{\pm}0.49$ in average over the experimental period. Organic matter contents in sample soil was $6.64{\pm}4.98\;g/kg$, and it shows relatively lower contents than those in agricultural soils in Kunsan area. Resulting from the soil chemistry data, soil nitrogen contents seem to affect GHG emission from the tidal land surface. The tidal soil was found to be either source or sink for the major GHG during the experimental periods. The annual average of $CH_{4}\;and\;CO_{2}$ fluxes were $0.13{\pm}0.86\;mg\;m^{-2}h^{-1}\;and\;5.83{\pm}138.73\;mg\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$, respectively, which will be as a source of these gases. However, $N_{2}O$ emission showed in negative flux, and the value was $-0.02{\pm}0.66\;mg\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$, and it implies tidal land surface act as a sink of $N_{2}O$. Over the experimental period, the absolute values of gas fluxes increased with soil temperature in general. Averages of the ambient gas concentration were $86.8{\pm}6.\;ppm$ in $CO_{2},\;1.63{\pm}0.34\;ppm\;in\;CH_{4},\;and\;0.59{\pm}0.15\;ppm\;in\;N_{2}O$, respectively. Generally, under the presence of gas emission from agricultural soils, decrease of gas emission will be observed as increase in ambient gas concentration. We, however, could not found significant correlation between the ambient concentrations and their emissions over the experimental period. There was no GHG compensation points existed in tide flat soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 2015

Monitoring of $CO_2$ release through the ground surface is essential to confirm the safety of carbon storage projects. We conducted a feasibility study of the multi-channel surface-soil $CO_2$-concentration monitoring (SCM) system as a soil $CO_2$ monitoring tool with a small scale injection test. The background concentrations showed the distinct diurnal variation. The negative relation of $CO_2$ with temperature and the low $CO_2$ concentrations during the day imply that surface-soil $CO_2$ depends on photosynthesis and respiration. After 4.2 kg of $CO_2$ injection (1 m depth for 29 minutes), surface-soil $CO_2$ concentrations increased in the all five chambers, which were located less than 2.8 m of distance from each other. The $CO_2$ concentrations seem to be recovered to the background around 4 hours after the injection ended. To determine the leakage, the data from Chamber 2 and 5 with low increase rates were used for statistical analyses. Coefficient of variation for 30 minutes ($CV_{30min}$.) is efficient to determine a leakage signal, with reflecting the fast change in $CO_2$ concentrations. Consequently, SCM and $CV_{30min}$ could be applied for an efficient monitoring tool to detect $CO_2$ release through the ground surface. Also, this study provides ideas for establishing action steps after leakage detection.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

To abate the environmental burdens arising from CO₂ emissions, biochar offers a strategic means to sequester carbons due to its recalcitrant nature. Also, biochar has a great potential for the use as carbon-based adsorbent because it is a porous material. As such, developing the surface properties of biochar increases a chance to produce biochar with great adsorption performance. Given that biochar is a byproduct in biomass pyrolysis, characteristics of biochar are contingent on pyrolysis operating parameters. In this respect, this work focused on the investigation of surface properties of biochar by controlling temperature and reaction medium in pyrolysis of pine sawdust as case study. In particular, CO₂ was used as reaction medium in pyrolysis process. According to pyrolytic temperature, the surface properties of biochar were indeed developed by CO₂. The biochar engineered by CO₂ showed the improved capability on CO₂ sorption. In addition, CO₂ has an effect on energy recovery by enhancing syngas production. Thus, this study offers the functionality of CO₂ for converting biomass into engineered biochar as carbon-based adsorbent for CO₂ sorption while recovering energy as syngas.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.907-914
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• 2019

Ammonia (NH₃) that reacts with nitric or sulfuric acid in the air is the major culprit contributing to the formation of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). NH₃ volatilization mainly originates from nitrogen fertilizer and livestock manure applied to arable soil. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of peat moss (PM) and zeolite (ZL) is high enough to adsorb ammonium (NH₄⁺) in soil. Therefore, they might inhibit volatilization of NH₃. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of PM and ZL on NH₃ volatilization from upland soil. For this, a laboratory experiment was carried out, and NH₃ volatilization from the soil was monitored for 12 days. PM and ZL were added at the rate of 0, 1, 2, and 4% (wt wt^-1) with 354 N g m^-2 of urea. Cumulative NH₃-N volatilization decreased with increasing addition rate of both materials. Mean value of cumulative NH₃-N volatilization across application rate with PM was lower than that with ZL. CEC increased with increasing addition rate of both materials. While the soil pH increased with ZL, it decreased with PM. Increase in CEC resulted in NH₄⁺ adsorption on the negative charge of the external surface of both materials. In addition, decrease in soil pH hinders the conversion of NH₄⁺ to NH₃. Based on the above results, the addition of PM or ZL could be an optimum management to reduce NH₃ volatilization from the soil. However, PM was more effective in decreasing NH₃ volatilization than ZL due to the combined effect of CEC and pH.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.301-311
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• 2020

In this study, shear strength behavior of fine-grained soils was investigated under unsaturated conditions. The samples in the unsaturated state were subjected to a net normal stress (σ-u_a) of 40 kPa and different matric suctions (u_a-u_w) of 50, 100 and 150 kPa. The matric suction values applied in the triaxial tests were selected according to the bubbling pressures determined from the SWC curves. The study was carried out on prepared re-constituted cylindrical samples by uniaxial consolidation of soil slurries. First, consolidated drained (CD) triaxial compression tests were performed on the saturated samples and the cohesion and angle of internal friction were determined. After that, drained triaxial compression tests under matric suctions were performed on the unsaturated samples. In order to obtain unsaturated test results, cohesion and internal friction angle values of saturated samples were used. The nonlinear surface representing the shear strength surface was approximated consisting of two planes (double planar surface). The reason for the nonlinear behavior of some soils is that the amount of sand content contained in it is relatively high and the bubbling pressure/permanent water content value is relatively low.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Weathering of bottom ash (BA) might induce change of its surface texture and pH and affect physical and chemical properties of soil associated with greenhouse gas emission, when it is applied to the arable soil. This study was conducted to determine effect of weathering of BA in mitigating emission of greenhouse gases from upland soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a field experiment, methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emitted from the soil was periodically monitored using closed chamber. Three month-weathered BA and non-weathered BA were applied to an upland soil at the rates of 0, 200 Mg ha^-1. Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown from July 1_st to Oct 8_th in 2018. Both BAs did not affect cumulative CH₄ emission. Cumulative CO₂ emission were 23.1, 19.8, and 18.8 Mg/ha/100days and cumulative N₂O emission were 35.8, 20.9, and 17.7 kg/ha/100days for the control, non-weathered BA, and weathered BA, respectively. Weathering of BA did not decrease emission of greenhouse gases significantly, compared to the weathered BA in this study. In addition, both BAs did not decrease biomass yields of maize. CONCLUSION: BA might be a good soil amendment to mitigate emissions of CO₂ and N₂O from arable soil without adverse effect on crop productivity.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.20-28
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• 2021

Perfluorinated compounds(PFCs), an emerging environmental pollutant, are environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative organic compounds that possess a toxic impact on human health and ecosystems. PFCs are distributed widely in environment media including groundwater, surface water, soil and sediment. PFCs in contaminated solid can potentially leach into groundwater. Therefore, understanding PFCs partitioning between the aqueous phase and solid phase is important for the determination of their fate and transport in the environment. In this study, the sorption equilibrium batch and kinetic experiment of PFCs were carried out to estimated the sorption coefficient(K_d) and the fraction between aqueous-solid phase partition, respectively. Sorption branches of the PFDA(Perfluoro-n-decanoic acid), PFNA(Perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid), PFOA(Perfluoro-n-octanoic acid), PFOS(Perfluoro-1-octane sulfonic acid) and PFHxS(Perfluoro-1-hexane sulfonic acid) isotherms were nearly linear, and the estimated K_d was as follow: PFDA(1.50) > PFOS(1.49) > PFNA(0.81) > PFHxS(0.45) > PFOA(0.39). The sorption kinetics of PFDA, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS onto soil were described by a biexponential adsorption model, suggesting that a fast transport into the surface layer of soil, followed by two-step diffusion transport into the internal water and/or organic matter of soil. Shorter times(<20hr) were required to achieve equilibrium and fraction for adsorption on solid(F₁, F₂) increased with perfluorinated carbon chain length and sulfonate compounds in this study. Overall, our results suggested that not only the perfluorocarbon chain length, but also the terminal functional groups are important contributors to electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between PFCs and soils, and organic matter in soils significantly affects adsorption maximum capacity than kinetic rate.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2023

This study was conducted to analyze changes of irrigation water and soil volumetric water content by irrigation method of field soil in Saemangeum reclaimed tideland. The main test irrigation methods was surface drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and sub drip irrigation. In addition, the correlation between irrigation amounts and crop yield by irrigation method was investigated. For soil volumetric water contents increases by 25%, surface drip irrigation took 1.5 hour, sprinkler irrigation took 2.0 hours, and sub drip irrigation took 3.0 hours. As a result of analyzing the irrigation amounts according to the yield, the surface drip irrigation was 2.66 mm/day in the seedling stages, 3.31 mm/day in the vegetative growth stages, and 5.09 mm/day in the flowering stages. Sprinkler irrigation was 2.90 mm/day in the seedling stages, 3.87 mm/day in the vegetative growth stages, and 7.11 mm/day in the flowering stages. Sub drip irrigation was 2.42 mm/day in the seedling stages, 3.09 mm/day in the vegetative growth stages, and 4.87 mm/day in the flowering stages. It was analyzed that there was a statistically significant difference in irrigation amounts by fresh weight and irrigation method (F=4.002, p=0.022), and irrigation amounts by dry weight and irrigation method (F=3.499 p=0.034). Surface drip irrigation was judged to be more appropriate than sprinkler irrigation or sub drip irrigation for field crops in Saemangeum reclaimed land.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.111-120
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• 2022

The concept of soil moisture memory was used as a method for quantifying the function of soil to control water flow, which evaluates the average residence time of precipitation. In order to characterize the soil moisture memory, a new measurement index called stored precipitation fraction (F_p(f)) was used by tracking the increments in soil moisture by the precipitation event. In this study, the temporal and spatial distribution of soil moisture memory was evaluated along with the slope and soil characteristics of the surface (0~5 cm) soil by using satellite- and model-based precipitation and soil moisture in the Korean peninsula, from 2019 to 2020. The spatial deviation of the soil moisture memory was large as the stored precipitation fraction in the soil decreased preferentially along the mountain range at the beginning (after 3 hours), and the deviation decreased overall after 24 hours. The stored precipitation fraction in the soil clearly decreased as the slope increased, and the effect of drainage of water in the soil according to the composition ratio of the soil particle size was also shown. In addition, average soil moisture contributed to the increase and decrease of hydraulic conductivity, and the rate of rainfall transfer to the depths affected the stored precipitation fraction. It is expected that the results of this study will greatly contribute in clarifying the relationship between soil moisture memory and surface characteristics (slope, soil characteristics) and understanding spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture.