• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2003

Microalgae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms and abundant in every ecosystem in the biosphere. They are common in aqueous environments including marine, brackish and fresh waters and in some habitats that lack eukaryotic life such as some hot springs and highly alkaline lakes. Microalgal biotechnology that is focused on the microalgae-based production of a variety of useful materials such as pharmaceutical comfounds, health foods, natural pigments, and biofuels is considered as an important discipline with the development of biotechnology. In addition, the mass cultivation of microalgae can also contribute to improving the environmental quality by reducing the concentration of $CO_2$ which is one of major gases lead to global warming. Consequently, it seems that the microalgae can be used as an efficient, renewable, environmentally friendly source of high-value biomaterials such as chemicals, pigments, energy, etc. and the microalgal biotechnology will most likely represent a larger portion of modern biotechnology.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1430-1436
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• 2017

This study assessed the effects of treatment with sap extract from onion residues postharvest and purslane on the quality and quantity of organic onions. At the bending stage, onions treated with the sap extract showed vigorous growth, with higher plant heights, more leaves, and longer sheath lengths than untreated onions. The onion yield was significantly increased when the plant was treated with extracted sap as compared with that of untreated plants (p<0.05). The bulb weight distribution of onions in the mixed onion and purslane treatment was also significantly increased (~300 g) as compared with that of the other treatment (p<0.05). Except for CaO and S, the mineral content of the onions produced from plants treated with the onion and purslane extract mixture was higher than those of onions in the other treatment. The hardness of onions produced from plants treated with the onion and purslane extract was significantly increased (8% and 20%, respectively) as compared with that of onions produced from plants treated with the onion extract only or no treatment (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the sugar contents of the onions produced from extract-treated and nonextract-treated plants. Postharvest, the content of inorganic components (phosphate, calcium, sulfuric acid, and manganese) was higher in soil treated with the onion extract than in soil treated with the onion and purslane extract and non-treated soil. It can be concluded that residues left after onion harvests and purslane extract can be used as natural and environmentally friendly materials for the cultivation of organic onions.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.488-494
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• 2007

Highland regions for farming are generally located in slopes higher than 7%, where alpine farming systems rely on highly input agriculture management with great amounts of chemical fertilizer and/or compost. Most of the uplands is thus needed to maintain environmentally friendly soil management due to its impact on soil erosion and runoff during heavy rainfall season. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of reduction of soil erosion by applying four wild edible greens (fatsia, goat beard, leopard plant, and aster). The lysimeter experiment of slope gradients of 15, 30, and 45% was conducted in an alpine region of Hoengkye, Kangwon, in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, both amounts of soil loss from the experiment plots cultivated with goat beard and aster were lower than one with Chinese cabbage by about 50%. The amounts of runoff of goat beard and aster plots were also lower than those of the others. An increase in the slope gradients was accompanied with an increase in runoff. Of the plots of slope gradient of 15, 30, and 45%, S of goat beard plots was 52.50, 108.33, and 171.50 kg, respectively. Soil loss of Chinese cabbage was 2 to 3 times as high as those of goat beard plots. These results suggest that goat beard and aster plants with minimum tillage reduce soil erosion compared to Chinese cabbage cultivation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2007

As the consumption of environmentally friendly agricultural products increases, food safety is at the forefront of public health concerns. We analyzed the biological hazards of 26 species of leaf vegetables and 4 species of fruit according to types of cultivation (conventional or organic filming) and distribution system (giant retailers or organic food stores) using various culture media, automatic bacterial identification systems, and microscopy, Total bacterial count of unwashed agricultural product ranged from $5.2{\times}10^{3}\;to\;1.5{\times}10^{5}\;CFU/mL$ (from 0.1 g of agricultural products), and the average count dropped 25-fold (range, 8-60-fold) after water washing. Microbial levels of washed organic agricultural products were $6.0{\times}10^{2}-1.9{\times}10^{4}\;CFU/mL$, and were not significantly different f개m the microbial loads on conventionally farmed produce. There was no significant difference in bacterial count from agricultural produce purchased from giant retailers or organic food stores. Total microbial count of Chinese cabbage, welsh onion, red chicory and kale were comparatively high, and Enterobacter cloacae was isolated most frequently. Parasites were detected in agricultural products purchased from conventional farm products in the stores of giant retailers, and in organic food stores, and parasite prevalence was especially high in Chinese cabbages and welsh onion. The study indicated that cultivation methods and distribution systems did not cause significant differences in biological contamination levels of agricultural produce. Some vegetables and fruits were highly contaminated effective sanitizing methods to reduce these biological hazards are needed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.484-489
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• 2010

The cultivation of green manure crops plays an important role in soil quality and sustainability of agricultural system. However, the incorporation of green manure crops may be of concern because it can lead to strongly reducing conditions in the submerged soil. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of rice husk carbon on rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation using green manure mixtures (hairy vetch + rye) in rice paddy. Field experiments were conducted in rice paddy soil (Shinheung series, fine loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic family of Aeric Fluventic Haplaquepts) at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Korea from October 2007 to October 2008. The experiments consisted of three treatments: application or no application of carbonized rice husk, and conventional fertilization. These treatments were subdivided into whole incorporation and aboveground removal of green manure mixtures. The redox potential (Eh) was higher upon application of the carbonized rice husk when compared to no application at 8 and 37 days after transplanting (DAT). The ammonium-N ($NH_4$-N) in soil was highest upon the application of carbonized rice husk + whole green manure incorporation at 17 and 49 DAT. Plant height and tiller number of rice were similar to the $NH_4$-N concentration in soil. Rice yields of application and no application of carbonized rice husk treatment were not significant. However, application of carbonized rice husk improved the soil physical properties such as bulk density and porosity after rice harvest. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that carbonized rice husk could be used as soil amendment for environmentally-friendly rice production under a green manure mixture-rice cropping system.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2008

In order to establish environmentally friendly phosphorus(P) and potassium(K) fertilizer application rates for rice cultivation in Korea, a field experiment was conducted in two different characterized paddy soils, higher and lower P and K content in soil from 2005 to 2006 in Suwon, Korea. Chuchong which is typical rice variety in Korea, was selected for experiment. Rice yields in base P-K fertilizer level ($30-30kg\;ha^{-1}$) and no P-K fertilizer level were 97~98% and 93~97% of standard P-K fertilizer level ($45-57kg\;ha^{-1}$), respectively. At the lower content of P and K in immatured paddy soil, the yield of no P plot was decreased by 7% compared to that of standard P-K plot. Significant difference in rice yield and yield characteristics was found neither in standard P-K fertilization plot nor in base P-K fertilization plot. There was no significant difference in P and K uptake at the harvest stage between standard P-K fertilizer plot and base P-K fertilizer plot. Phosphorus and K uptake was slightly decreased in no fertilizer plots compared to standard fertilizer plot. Phosphorus and K use efficiency of rice plant in base fertilizer plot was higher than that in standard fertilizer plot. Available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium content in soil at the harvest stage were increased in both standard and base fertilizer plot. But no significant difference of P and K content in ? was found between standard fertilizer plot and base fertilizer plot. Rice quality characteristics such as proportion of brewers rice, damaged kernel, broken rice, and content of amylose and protein were lowered in the base fertilizer plot than the standard fertilized plot, while the proportion of perfect kernel increased in the base fertilizer plot From the results, we generally recommend the base P-K fertilization ($30-30kg\;ha^{-1}$) instead of standard P-K fertilization ($45-57kg\;ha^{-1}$) for rice cultivation in Korea.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.376-387
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• 2019

Melons are mostly grown in soil, but it is susceptible to damage due to injury by continuous cropping such as Fusarium wilt and root rot. Hydroponic cultivation system can overcome the disadvantages of soil cultivation with precise nutrition management and a clean environment. When using the coir substrate, the most environmentally friendly organic substrate used for hydroponics, it is analyzed how the growth and fruit quality of the melon depends on the ratio of chips and dust and the amount of irrigation. The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data of melon hydroponics when cultivated in spring. The two types of the coir substrates used in the experiments were chip and dust ratios of 3 :7 and 5 : 5 respectively. The substrate with high dust ratios had excellent physical characteristics, such as container capacity and total porosity, and the drainage EC level showed a high value of $3.0-6.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. When the amount of irrigation is provided based on the drainage rate, the group provided the nutrient solution on the basis of 10% drainage supplied 91 L per plant, which was reduced by about 30% compared to the group with the highest water supply. In addition, the total drainage showed less than 10 L per plant with a minimum water supply and was reduced by 30 - 70% in substrate with a high dust rates. In substrate with high water supply and high dust ratio, leaf growth and fruit enlargement were good, and the soluble solids content varies greatly from cultivar to cultivar. If you provided the amount of irrigation based on 10% drainage rate, the fruit weight will be decreased, but the amount of irrigation can be reduced. Therefore, it is considered that managing the water & nutrient properly taking into account the characteristics of coir substrate and cultivar can produce melon of uniform quality using hydroponics.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.822-828
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• 2012

Organic fruit production has increased due to consumer's interest and government's political support for environmentally-friendly agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cover plants on soil microbial community and establish the fruit cultivation method by organic farming techniques. Cover plants used as an organic nutrient source in an apple orchard were rye and barley, the Gramineae and red clover and hairy vetch, the Leguminosae. In the effects of cover plants on the soil chemical characteristics, the soil pH values were higher than that of conventional organic pear orchard. The content of P showed no significant difference between control and cover plant plots. Organic matter level was similar in control and Gramineae cover plant plots, while organic matter content in cover plants belong to Leguminosae was lower than that of control plot. K content was lower in the plots treated with rye and red clover than control plot, while K content in hairy vetch treated plot was higher than control plot. Ca content was lower in control plot than in cover plant treated plots. Concentrations of Mg in the plots treated with barley and hairy vetch was lower than control plot. In August rye and red clover covered soil showed higher bacterial community density than that of control soil and barley treated soil showed highest Actinomycetes community density among treatments. Barley and hairy vetch soils showed higher level of fungi community density than that of control soil in August. In pyrosequencing analysis barley treated soil showed highest distribution ratio of Actinomycetes among treatment. Our findings might be used as basic data for choosing cover plant with effective organic matter decomposition and nutrition supply capacity.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2011

This study was carried out to select a proper forage crop, and to estimate the proper level of application of cattle manure and carrying capacity of organic livestock per unit area. Corns and forage sorghum hybrids were cultivated with different types of livestock manures and different amount of them to produce organic forage. For both corns and forage sorghum hybrids, no fertilizer plots had significantly (p<0.05) lower annual dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) yields than those of other plots, whereas the N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorous-kalium) plots ranked the highest yields, followed by 150% cattle manure plots and 100% cattle manure plots. DM, CP and TDN yields of in cattle manure plots were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of no fertilizer and P-K (phosphorous-kalium) plots. The yields of in cattle slurry plots tended to be a little higher than those of in composted cattle manure plots. Assuming that corn and forage sorghum hybrids produced from this trial were fed at 70% level to 450kg of Hanwoo heifer for 400g of average daily gain, the carrying capacity (head/year/ha) of livestock ranked the highest in 150% cattle slurry plots (mean 6.0 heads), followed by 100% cattle slurry plots (mean 5.3 heads), 150% composted cattle manure plots (mean 4.7 heads), 100% composted cattle manure plots (mean 4.4 heads), and no fertilizer plots (mean 2.8 heads) in corns (or the cultivation of corns). Meanwhile, in the case of forage sorghum hybrids, 150% cattle slurry plots (mean 6.4 heads) ranked the highest carrying capacity, followed by 150% composted cattle manure plots (mean 4.8 heads), 100% cattle slurry plots (mean 4.4 heads), 100% composted cattle manure plots (mean 4.1 heads), and no fertilizer plots (mean 2.8 heads). The results indicated that the application of livestock manure to cultivated soil could enhance not only DM and TDN yields, but also the carrying capacity of organic livestock as compared with the effect of chemical fertilizers. In conclusion, the production of organic forage with reutilized livestock manure will facilitate the reduction of environmental pollution and the production of environmentally friendly agricultural products by resource circulating system.