• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1077-1085
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• 2016

The present study was investigated the effect of recycled coir organic substrates on the growth of different vegetable crops. The recycled coir had better physical and chemical properties than the new coir. The growth of tomato plant was better on the coir substrate that had been used for 2 years than that on the new coir substrate. The average number of tomato fruits was 108 on the new coir substrate, while it was 179 and 165 on the coir substrate used for 1 and 2 years, respectively. The growth of cherry tomato plant was also better on the coir substrate used for 2 years than that on the new coir substrate. The average number of cherry tomato fruits was 43 on the new coir substrate, while it was 206 and 164 on the coir substrate used for 1 and 2 years, respectively. The growth of brussel sprout was better on the coir substrate used for 3 years than that on the new coir substrate and the average number of brussel sprout leaves was 26.8 on the new coir substrate, while it was 34.3 on the coir substrate used for 3 years. The growth of Korean cabbage improved on the coir substrate used for 1 years compared to the new coir substrate and the number of leaves was 15.1 on the new coir substrate, while it was 24.3 on the coir substrate used for 1 year. Thus, used coir can be recycled to improve vegetable yields compared to using new coirs.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.937-946
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• 2018

This study investigated the applicability of horticultural media with recycled coir substrates the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. Pekinensis) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) crop. The six different types of coir based substrates were A, Coir 45: Perlite 35: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), B, Coir 55: Perlite 25: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), C, Coir 65: Perlite 15: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), D, Coir 75: Perlite 5: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), E, Coir 85: Perlite 5: Vermiculite 5: Zeolite 5 (%) and F, nursery media (control). The pH and Electric conductivity of the horticultural nursery media were 6.06-7.00 and $0.45-1.10dS/m^{-1}$, respectively. The nursery media containing coir substrates had higher level of Total N, Ca, K, Mg and P than those without coir. Additionally, it was observed that the growth of Chinese cabbage was the best on D (containing 75% coir) while that of lettuce was the best on E (containing 85% coir). In general, when substrates containg a higher percentage of coir were used, the growth of Chinese cabbage and lettuce was ideal. Additionally, the P, Ca, and Mg content in both plants was not significantly altered by the amount of coir present in the media. However, with an increase in the amount of coir substrate, the chlorophyll, N, and K content was increased. After harvesting, there was no significant difference in the chemical properties of the horticultural nursery media of both plants. Thus, it can be suggested that, coir substrate after a single use could be recycled as horticulture nursery media.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.627-634
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• 2018

Soil stabilization is an essential engineering process to enhance the geotechnical properties of soils that are not suitable for construction purposes. This study focuses on using coconut coir, a natural fibre to enhance the soil properties. Lime, an activator is added to the reinforced soil to augment its shear strength and durability. An experimental investigation was conducted to demonstrate the effect of coconut coir fibers and lime on the consistency limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength, stress-strain behaviour, subgrade strength and durability of the treated soil. The results of the study illustrate that lime stabilization and coir reinforcement improves the unconfined compressive strength, post peak failure strength, controls crack propagation and boosts the tensile strength of the soil. Coir reinforcement provides addition contact surface, improving the soil-fibre interaction and increasing the interlocking between fibre and soil and thereby improve strength. Optimum performance of soil is observed at 1.25% coir fibre inclusion. Coir being a natural product is prone to degradation and to increase the durability of the coir reinforced soil, lime is used. Lime stabilization favourably amends the geotechnical properties of the coir fibre reinforced soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.230-234
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• 2007

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2010

This paper describes the compaction and strength behavior of black cotton soil (BC soil) reinforced with coir fibers. Coir used in this study is processed fiber from the husk of coconuts. BC soil reinforced with coir fiber shows only marginal increase in the strength of soil, inhibiting its use for ground improvement. In order to further increase the strength of the soil-coir fiber combination, optimum percentage of 4% of lime is added. The effect of aspect ratio, percentage fiber on the behavior of the composite soil specimen with curing is isolated and studied. It is found that strength properties of optimum combination of BC soil-lime specimens reinforced with coir fibers is appreciably better than untreated BC soil or BC soil alone with coir fiber. Lime treatment in BC soil improves strength but it imparts brittleness in soil specimen. BC soil treated with 4% lime and reinforced with coir fiber shows ductility behavior before and after failure. An optimum fiber content of 1% (by weight) with aspect ratio of 20 for fiber was recommended for strengthening BC soil.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.197-208
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• 2009

Changes occurring in jute and coir fiber composites with 2-8% concentration of a NaOH treatment for 24 h were investigated, respectively, for void content, microscopy images, mechanical properties and water absorption. The jute and coir fibers were vacuum dried before molding composite specimens. Mechanical properties indicated good adhesion between natural fibers and PP. Jute fibers, when alkali-treated with 2% concentration for 24 h, showed best improvement in tensile strength by 40% and modulus by 9%, respectively, while coir fibers, when alkali-treated with 6% concentration for 24 h, showed best improvement in tensile strengths by 62% and modulus by 17%, respectively. With 2% concentration of alkali-treatments, the elongation of jute and coir composites reached 8% and 13.5%, respectively. Moisture absorption for jute and coir composites are 50% and 60% lower than untreated fiber composites, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.27-36
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• 2015

This study was conducted to grasp the effect of afforestation of cut slope using coir blocks on the improvement of scenery and the management of non point pollution source. Total four experimental tanks such as general soil slope, coir blocks, installation slope, slope refilling the inside of coir blocks slope with pebble, slope refilling the inside of coir blocks with soil and plant were installed, pollution source water was supplied and the possibility of reduction management of non point pollution source was analyzed at four items of COD, SS, T-N, T-P and main results drawn from this study are as follows. In conclusion, biodegradable materials like coir blocks and soil and plant layers are judged to be helpful in reduction management of non point pollution source inflowing to water space from land area. Thus, the reduction of non point pollution source occurring at land area is thought to be fully controlled at the cut slope, the space prior to inflowing to water ecological space like a stream or a swamp area.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate growth and flowering of hydroponically-grown carnation as affected by substrate and planting date, Three substrates, coir, perlite, and coir＋perlite(1：1. v/v), and two planting dates. May 1 and September 1 were used. Plant height and stem diameter at harvesting time of cut flowers were greater for the September 1 planting than for the May 1 planting. The plants planted on May 1 produced flowers with weak stems and short stem lengths. In addition, flower weight and blossom width were gloater for the September 1 planting than for the Mar 1 planting. The planting date had no significant effect on the number of petals, The carnation planted on May 1 flowered 50 days earlier compared to those Planted on September 1. Plant height and number of petals were the greatest in the plot of coir substrate. The results indicated that for commercial production of cut carnations in a hydroponic system, planting on September 1 is better than May 1. In addition. the results confirm that coir is the superior substrate for the production of cut carnations in a hydroponic system compared to either Perlite or coir＋perlite mixture.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2000

Covering rate, visual rating and sod development were evaluated under three natural fiber materials with Phragmites spp. when over a plastic sheet. The results were as follows. (1) The last covering rate was high on jute net, coir mat and on Miscanthus sacchariflorus, respectively while the early covering rate was high on coir mat and on Miscanthus sinensis+perennial ryegrass. (2) The early growth was good on perennial ryegrass but the covering rate gradually turned poor because of summer drought. (3) Sod was highly developed on Phragmites japonica, Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus sinensis compared with other species and mixtures. (4) The covering rate and visual rating were high on natural fiber materials such as coir mat and jute net when compared with on natural fiber materials such as none treatment plots. (5) The natural fibers materials on Phragmites spp. and Miscanthus spp. were effect on sod establishment. Sod coir mat was highly established. (6) The carpet-type sod was best developed on the coir mat.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1221-1231
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• 2015

The present study was conducted to find a way to recycle the coir substrate by investigating changes in its physical and chemical properties based on the number of use year. Specific gravity of unused coir substrate was $0.212g/cm^3$, while it was higher for the substrate used for 2 years. Porosity was different depending on the number of use year. The porosity of unused substrate was 51.9%, but it increased to 68.6% after used for 2 years. In general, physical and chemical properties were better in the coir substrate used for 2 years than in unused one. The number of leaves, leaf area, flesh weight and dry weight of oriental cabbage and lettuce were higher in coir substrate used for 2 years than those in unused one. Whereas, no significant difference was observed between the substrates used for one year and 2 years, indicating that the one time-used wast substrate could be recycled for cultivating vegetables. Growth of the vegetables was improved when organic fertilizer composed of complex organics with different mixing ratios was provided to the coir substrate, compared to untreated plot. The optimum mixing ratio of the wast substrate and complex organics was 2:8(v/v) for fertilization using wast coir substrate. Therefore, coir substrate generally wasted after being used for one time was reuseable by supplying organic fertilizer.