• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 1989

In this report, we set up a simple device which enabled us to obtain data useful to estimate the relative capacity of thermal energy retention of greenhouse built with various plastic coverings. A box($20cm{\times}20cm{\times}30cm$) framed with flexiglass at the edges and covered with thin plastic films was made, in which were placed a thermostat-controlled nichrom wire heater and a thermal probe made of thermister to monitor temperature changes. A wheaston-bridge type transducer and a chart recorder were used to record the changes of temperature inside the box The data obtained by using the device showed that the relative rate of heat toss through plastic films with identical thickness decreased in the order of PE film>EVA film>PVC film and that IR additives such as fine silica gel improved the insulating power of plastic films. This observations are in well accord with general information, demostrating the feasibility of the device in usefulness for the purpose of screening of various commercial plastic coverings.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2023

The studies on the effect of different plastic properties (e.g., types, shapes, presence of additivies) on the sorption of contaminants in the agricultural environment are limited. In this study, Cu and Pb, the commonly found heavy metals in the environment, were used to investigate the sorption capacities of microplastics (MPs). The Pb sorption capacity increased in the order of polystyrene (PS)<polyethylene (PE)<polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The estimated Cu sorption capacity was greater for the PE films than the PE fragments, while the sorption strength was greater for the PE fragments. This suggests that the shapes of MPs can affect the contaminant sorption capacities. With the PE fragments, the Pb sorption capacity was greater than the Cu sorption capacity by 10-12 times. Also, the Pb and Cu sorption capacities were greater for the PE fragments with additives than the PE fragment without additives. After the sorption of Pb or Cu on MPs, the toxic effects of the Pb or Cu solutions were decreased, suggesting that the toxic effects of contaminants can be affected by the co-presence of MPs in the environment. Overall, the results show that different types and shapes of MPs and the presence of additives can affect the heavy metal sorption capacities of MPs.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2012

This study was performed to screen fallow crops during winter period for improvement of soil quality and utilizing as mulching material in watermelon cropping system during winter period. Five fallow crops, mainly, hairy vetch, barley, rye, oat and wheat, were sown in early November. They were mowed for covering the soil surface instead of polyethylene (PE) film before watermelon planting in early April the following year. The highest absorbed nutrients and dry matter yield were found in rye. Bulk density in plots with fallow crop was lower than control plot. There was observed no significant differences among the fallow crops. However, porosity was the lowest in control plot. Soil EC reduced to 12%, 13%, 14%, 16% and 22%, respectively, by cultivation of hairy vetch, oat, wheat, barley and rye. Microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activities were higher in soil treated with gramineous crops, such as barley, rye and oat. The growth of watermelon was more affected by regeneration of fallow crop than the occurrence of weed, especially in plots treated with rye or oat. Also, the fruit damage by aphid was found severe in these treatment plots. The fruit yield in plots treated with hairy vetch and barley was increased 5.7% and 2.6%, respectively, compared to that of PE films. The present experiment findings implied that these fallow crops had significant beneficial effects on improvement of soil qualities and could be utilized for mulching materials in watermelon cropping system.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to know the qualities of soil and shallow groundwater in plastic film house fields around Central Part of Korea. The study was conducted at 11 sites in Suweon, Hwasung, Pyungtaek, Yongin and Chuncheon through May to August in 1999. Soil textures of plastic films house were mainly sandy loam or loam. Electric conductivity and organic matter content of surface soils mostly exceeded the critical levels for crop production. Average concentration of $NO_3-N$ in the sha]low groundwater was 19.1 mg/L, and it reached almost the limiting level of agricultural groundwater quality (20 mg/L). Moreover about 36% of survey sites exceeded the limiting level of agricultural groundwater quality. Sulfate concentrations also at some sites exceeded agricultural groundwater quality limit level (50 mg/L). Nitrate-N, one of the most important factors in the groundwater quality, had positive correlations with other ions in foundwater.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Resources Recycling Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.59-69
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• 2005

일본의 농림수산성은 ${\ulcorner}$농업용 폐플라스틱${\lrcorner}$으로 호칭하고 있다. 연간배출량은 약 16 만톤에 이르고 있고, 이의 처리내용은 재생 38%, 매립 32%, 소각 11%, 등이다. 재생처리단계는 민간사업자가 기본으로, 처리내용은 일반적으로 PVC가 바닥재로써 쓰이고 PE가 서멀(연료)로써 쓰인다. 그러나 최근에 와서 비닐에 혼합되어 있는 이물질을 완전제거해 일정량의 버진과 배합함으로써 비닐을 반영구적으로 순환해 사용할 수 있는 기술이 개발되어 졌다. 이 싸이클시스템은 21 세기의 절약형사회에 적합한 것으로, 버진제품보다 저가에 공급되어 농업경영의 안정화에도 기여하고 있다. 한번 사용한 농업용 생산자재를 회수해 다시 생산자재로서 활용, 끝없이 순환한다는 개념이 뒷받침하는 이 기술은 향후 환경과 자원의 문제해결이라는 주목할 만한 가치가 있다.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2015

This study calculated the overall heat transfer coefficient (U-value) of greenhouse covering materials with thermal screens using a simulation model and then estimated the validity of the calculated results by comparison with measured values. The U-value decreased gradually as the thickness of the air space between the double glazing increased, and then remained essentially constant at thicknesses exceeding 25 mm. The U-value also increased with the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the hot box. The vigorous convective heat transfer between two plastic films caused unsteady heat flow and then created a nonlinear temperature distribution in the air space. The distance did not affect the U-value at distances of 50~200 mm between the plastic covering and thermal curtain. The numerical calculation results, with and without sky radiation, were in accord with the experimental results for a $30^{\circ}C$ temperature difference between the inside and outside of the hot box. In conclusion, a reliable U-value can be calculated for a temperature difference of $30^{\circ}C$ or more between the inside and outside of the hot box.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.194-204
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop long-term storage technology for Chinese cabbage in order to extend the period of availability of freshly harvested products. The scope of the paper deals with the use of a cooler with a remote monitoring and control interface in conjunction with use of packaging film. Methods: A cooler with a real time monitoring system was designed as a low-temperature storage facility to control temperature and relative humidity (RH). The effects of storage in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic boxes, 3% chitosan dipping solution, polypropylene film (PEF) with perforations, and mesh packaging bags on physiological responses were investigated. The optimal storage temperature and humidity for 120 days were below $0.5^{\circ}C$ and 90%, respectively. Physiological and biochemical features of cabbage quality were also analyzed: weight loss, texture, and sugar salinity, chlorophyll, reducing sugar, and vitamin C contents. Results: The cooler with a remote monitoring and control interface could be operated by an HMI program. A $0.5^{\circ}C$ temperature and 90% humidity could be remotely controlled within the cooler for 120 days. Postharvest freshness of Chinese cabbages could be maintained up to 120 days depending on the packaging method and operation of the remote monitoring system. In particular, wrapping the cabbages in PEF with perforations resulted in a less than a 5% deterioration in quality. This study provides evidence for efficient performance of plastic films in minimizing post-harvest deterioration and maintaining overall quality of cabbages stored under precise low-temperature conditions with remote monitoring and a control interface. Conclusions: Packaging with a modified plastic film and storage in a precisely controlled cooler with a remote monitoring and control interface could slow down the physiological factors that cause adverse quality changes and thereby increase the shelf life of Chinese cabbage.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2001

To compare to the optical and physical properties of covering materials for plastic greenhouse, EVA(ethylene vinyl acetate, 0.08 mm), polyorefine antifog (0.1 mm), fluoric (0.06 mm), diffused (0.15 mm), polyorefine antidrop (0.15 mm) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate, 0.5 mm) films were used. The small greenhouse (5.4$\times$18.5$\times$2.9 m, W$\times$L$\times$H) investigated during 3 years form 1997 to 1999. After covering materials were used for greenhouse covering during 30 months, UV (300-400 nm) transmittances of diffused film and PET were appeared from 25 to 26%, while those of fluoric film and the other films were 76% and from 63 to 67%. For PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, 400-700 nm), the transmittances of fluoric, antidrop, PET, antifog, EVA, and diffused film were 86.5%, 80.5%, 76.3%, 75.5%, 74.1% and 61.9% respectively. The losses of PAR transmittance of EVA and the antidrop film during period between 7 days and 30 months were higher value 12% and lower value 6% than any other film. Under the canopy of tomato plants, light intensities of the diffused film and the antifog film were 2.5 times and 1.4 times higher than those of PET. Tensile resistances of fluoric film at the break point were the higher than those of antifog film and diffused film. While impact resistance of the antidrop film was the highest value, but the fluoric film was the lowest. Air temperature inside the greenhouse for the day showed to be changed the similar light transmittance of the films. But the increasing order of air temperature for the night was PET, fluoric, antidrop, diffused, antifog and EVA film. Especially, air temperature in the PET was 4$^{\circ}C$ higher than that in the EVA. Solar radiations of the fluoric film, the antidrop film, PET and antifog film in the greenhouse were 32%, 15%, 11% and 4% higher than those of PET. However, those of the diffused film was 7% less than PET.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.473-480
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• 2014

Upon setting up a dedicated plastic greenhouse for tomato cultivation developed by the Rural Development Administration on the Gyehwa reclaimed land, this study was aimed at analyzing the problems can be occurred in the installation of plastic greenhouse on reclaimed lands as well as finding out solutions for improvement. A relatively cheaper wooden pile was used in the installation in order to supplement the soft ground conditions. Based on the results of ground investigation of the installation site, both the allowable bearing capacity and pulling resistance of the wooden pile with a diameter of 150 mm and a length of 10 m were computed and came out to be 30.645 kN. It was determined that the values were enough to withstand the maximum compressive force (17.206 kN) and the pullout force (20.435 kN) that are generally applied to the greenhouse footing. There are three problems aroused in the process of greenhouse installation, and the corresponding countermeasures are as follow. First, due to the slightly bent shape of the wooden pile, there were phenomenon such as deviation, torsion, and fracture when driving the pile. This could be prevented by the use of the backhoe (0.2) rotating tongs, which are holding the pile, to drive the pile while pushing to the direction of the driving and fixing it until 5 m below ground and applying a soft vibrating pressure until the first 2 m. Second, there exists a concrete independent footing between the column of the greenhouse and the wooden pile driven to the underground water level. Since it is difficult to accurately drive the pile on this independent footing, the problem of footing baseplate used to fix the column being off the independent footing was occurred. In order to handle with this matter, the diameter of the independent footing was changed from 200 mm to 300 mm. Last, after films were covered in the condition that the reinforcing frame and bracing are not installed, there was a phenomenon of columns being pushed away by the strong wind to the maximum of $11m{\cdot}s^{-1}$. It is encouraged to avoid constructions in winter, and the film covering jobs always to be done after the frame construction is completely over. The height of the independent footing was measured for 9 months after the completion of the greenhouse installation, and it was found to be within the margin of error meaning that there was no subsidence. The extent to the framework distortion and the value of inclinometers as well showed not much alteration. In other words, the wooden pile was designed to have a sufficient bearing capacity.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2002

One of the major obstructing factors against managing dairy farm in Korea has been a shortage of roughage supply, which resulted in excessive abuse of concentrate feed. In order to solve this problem, production of the wrap silage by the winter cereal forages raised in the fallow paddy field is strongly recommended in Korea. The main objective is to develop a tractor attached round bale wrapper which can process the silage by wrapping the round bales with thin plastic films. This is the first half of the study which is divided by two parts. In this first part, bale wrapping process was analyzed, and based on this results the followings were designed, developed and tested. 1. Bale wrapper which haying the maximum capacity of 1 ton bale with various functions such as loading, wrapping, discharging the round bales and supplying and cutting wrap films was designed. 2. An actuator and its hydraulic circuit of each process were developed and tested. 3. Also, the variations of hydraulic pressure and engine speed were investigated by operating bale wrapper developed. In this test, maximum pressure of the hydraulic circuit for the bale wrapping was 130 kg/㎠ when it raised the bale, which was quite below the relief pressure of 170 kg/㎠ of hydraulic circuit. In the engine speed test, speed drop was 20∼67 rpm, which meant that there was no over-load operation. Therefore, the experiment proved that developed hydraulic circuit and mechanism is stable in bale wrapping operation