• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.113-121
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• 1994

Since it is difficult to expect the normal production of plants in greenhouses during hot summer season in Korea, certain provisions on the control of extreme environmental factors in summer should be considered for the year-round cultivation in greenhouses. This study was carried out to find a method to suppress the temperature rising of nutrient solution by cooling, which is able to contribute to the improvement of the plant growth environment in hydroponic greenhouse during hot summer season. A mechanical cooling system using the counter flow type with double pipe was developed for cooling the nutrient solution efficiently. Also the heat transfer characteristics of the system was analysed experimentally and theoretically, and compared with the existing cooling systems of nutrient solution. The cooling capacities of three different Systems, which used polyethylene tube in solution tank, stainless tube in solution tank, and the counter flow type with double pipe, were evaluated. The performance of each cooling system was about 41 %, 70% and 81 % of design cooling load in hydroponic greenhouse of 1 ,000m$^2$ on the conditions that the flow rate of ground water was 2m$^3$/hr and the temperature difference between two liquids was 10 ˚C According to the results analysed as above, the cooling system was found to have a satisfactory cooling capability for regions where ground water supply is available. Fer the other regions where ground water supply is restricted, more efficient cooling System should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2010

In order to improve T-N and T-P removal in HF (horizontal flow)-HF hybrid constructed wetlands by natural purification method for treating the hydroponic wastewater in greenhouses, the efficiency of water treatment as affected by the injection method of hydroponic wastewater, the addition of special filter media, the particle size of filter media, and the injection ratio of hydroponic wastewater in $1^{st}$ HF and $2^{nd}$ HF beds were investigated in small-scale HF-HF hydroponic wastewater treatment apparatus. Removal rate of T-P in the water in HF-HF hydroponic wastewater treatment apparatus with calcite as affected by addition method of special filter media was higher than that in HF-HF hydroponic wastewater treatment apparatus with other filter media. Removal rate of BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P in the water in mixed filter media with calcite were 86, 84, 87, 50 and 97%, respectively. Removals of pollutants except for T-P in the water were slightly different. Therefore, it should be considered that the removal rate of T-P was good for calcite in HF-HF hydroponic wastewater treatment apparatus. To improve T-N and T-P removal, the optimum particle size of filter media was 1.2 mm, and the optimum injection ratio ($1^{st}$ HF bed : $2^{nd}$ HF bed) of hydroponic wastewater was 60:40.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2008

To obtain optimum configuration, depth and load of constructed wetlands(CWs) for treating of hydroponic waste solution(HWS) which was produced in greenhouses, the study was conducted with 4 kinds of combined systems such as Vertical flow(VF)-Horizontal flow(HF), VF-VF, HF-VF and HF-HF CWs. In four configurations of CWs, the treatment efficiency of pollutants from HWS under depth of HF and VF beds, HWS loading and HWSs were investigated. Removal rate of pollutants under different depth of VF and HF in 2-stage hybrid CWs was in the order of 50 cm < 70 cm regardless of CWs configuration. Removal rate of pollutants under HWS loading in 2-stage hybrid CWs was in the order of $150L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}{\fallingdotseq}300L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}\;>\;450L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$. The optimum depth and HWS loading were 70 cm and $300L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ in four configurations of CWs, respectively. Using this optimum condition, for various HWSs (cucumber, paprika and strawberry HWS), removal rate of pollutants in HF-HF CWs was higher than that in HF-VF CWs. Optimum configuration of 2-stage hybrid CWs for treating hydroponic waste solution in greenhouses was found out to be HF-HF CWs. Therefore, under the optimum conditions, removal rate of BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P in HF-HF CWs were 84, 81, 84, 51 and 93%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2014

In order to set up the basic environmental control systems which the new concept greenhouses have to equip, greenhouse characteristics, environmental management and control systems in domestic glasshouses and plastic houses were investigated and analyzed comparatively. Survey results on the width, length, eaves height, and the number of spans etc. showed that glasshouses were bigger than plastic houses significantly. New concept greenhouses claim to be plastic houses, but it will be reasonable to follow the specifications of the glasshouse. Specifications to be applied to new concept greenhouses were proposed as follows; hot water heating systems, aluminum screens as the thermal curtain, evaporative cooling systems, roof vents on the ridge, circulation fans, $CO_2$ enrichment, hydroponic systems, and automatic irrigation control systems. Environmental measurement systems for the indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, light, wind speed and indoor $CO_2$ concentration have to be fully equipped. The automatic control system has to be as a complex environmental control system, not a single item control system. Also, for stable dissemination, domestically producing complete greenhouse control system should be made as soon as possible.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2013

Environmental measurements in the many different types of horticultural farms were carried out to evaluate the ventilation performance for multi-span plastic greenhouses according to the eaves height, the number of spans, the existence of side wall vents and the position of roof vents. Hydroponic tomatoes were being cultivated in all experimental greenhouses, and ventilation rates of the greenhouses were analyzed by the heat balance method. It showed that the ventilation rate in the greenhouse with 4 m eaves height increased about 22% compared to the greenhouse with 2 m eaves height. The ventilation rate in the greenhouse with 9 spans decreased about 17% compared to the greenhouse with 5 spans. In the greenhouse with 9 spans, if there were no side wall vents, the ventilation rate showed about a third of the case that side wall vents were open. Overall, as the eaves height was higher and the number of spans was smaller in multi-span greenhouses, the natural ventilation performance was better. And the ventilation performance was best in the greenhouse which the eaves height was high and the position of roof vents was ridge, not gutter. Therefore, in order to maximize the natural ventilation performance, multi-span plastic greenhouses need to improve their structures such as that make the eaves height higher, place the roof vents on the ridge, install the side wall vents as much as possible, and the number of spans is limited to about 10 spans.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.937-943
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• 2011

In order to develop constructed wetlands for treating hydroponic wastewater in greenhouses, removal efficiencies and decomposition velocities of pollutants in constructed wetland were investigated for treating hydroponic wastewater. Removal rates of BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P in effluent in constructed wetlands were 88%, 79%, 92%, 64% and 92%, respectively. The decomposition velocities (K; $day^{-1}$) of pollutants in $1^{st}$ HF bed of constructed wetlands were higher in the order of SS ($0.54day^{-1}$) > BOD ($0.39day^{-1}$) > COD ($0.27day^{-1}$) > T-P ($0.26day^{-1}$) > T-N ($0.06day^{-1}$). In $1^{st}$ HF bed of constructed wetlands, the decomposition velocity of SS was rapid than that for BOD, COD, T-N and T-P in constructed wetland for treating hydroponic wastewater. The decomposition velocity (K; $day^{-1}$) of pollutants in $2^{nd}$ HF bed of constructed wetland were higher in the order of T-P ($0.52day^{-1}$) > BOD ($0.28day^{-1}$) > COD ($0.15day^{-1}$) > T-N ($0.06day^{-1}$) > SS ($0.10day^{-1}$). In $2^{nd}$ HF bed of constructed wetlands, the decomposition velocity of T-P was rapid than that for BOD, COD, SS and T-N in constructed wetland for treating hydroponic wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Various culture media have been used for hydroponic cultures of horticultural plants under the smart greenhouses with natural and artificial light types. Management of the culture medium for the control of medium amounts and/or necessary components absorbed by plants during the cultivation period is performed with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and/or IoT (Internet of Things) in a smart farm system. This study was conducted to develop the cloud-based data analysis system for effective management of culture medium applying to hydroponic culture and plant growth in smart greenhouses. METHODS AND RESULTS: Conventional inorganic Yamazaki and organic media derived from agricultural byproducts such as a immature fruit, leaf, or stem were used for hydroponic culture media. Component changes of the solutions according to the growth stage were monitored and plant growth was observed. Red and green lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) which developed 2~3 true leaves were considered as plant materials. The seedlings were hydroponically grown in the smart greenhouse with fluorescent and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) lights of $150{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ light intensity for 35 days. Growth data of the seedlings were classified and stored to develop the relational database in the virtual machine which was generated from an open stack cloud system on the base of growth parameter. Relation of the plant growth and nutrient absorption pattern of 9 inorganic components inside the media during the cultivation period was investigated. The stored data associated with component changes and growth parameters were visualized on the web through the web framework and Node JS. CONCLUSION: Time-series changes of inorganic components in the culture media were observed. The increases of the unfolded leaves or fresh weight of the seedlings were mainly dependent on the macroelements such as a $NO_3-N$, and affected by the different inorganic and organic media. Though the data analysis system was developed, actual measurement data were offered by using the user smart device, and analysis and comparison of the data were visualized graphically in time series based on the cloud database. Agricultural management in data visualization and/or plant growth can be implemented by the data analysis system under whole agricultural sites regardless of various culture environmental changes.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2018

This study set out to select a system to realize an optimal environment for strawberry cultivation greenhouses based on data about the growth and development of strawberry and its environment and to provide basic data for the research of its improved productivity. For these purposes, the investigator conducted a field survey with greenhouses for strawberry cultivation in western Gyeongnam. The findings show that farmers in their fifties and sixties accounted for the biggest part in the age groups of strawberry farmers. While those who were under 50 were accounted for approximately 67.5%, those who were 60 or older accounted for 32.5%. As for cultivation experiences, the majority of the farmers had ten years of cultivation experiences or less with some having 30 years of cultivation experiences or more. All the farmers built an arch type single span greenhouse. Those who used nutrient solutions were about 75.0%, being more than those who used soil. All of the farmers that used a nutrient solution adopted an elevated hydroponic system. The single span greenhouses were in the range of 7.5~8.5m, 1.3~1.8m and 2.5~3.5m for width, eaves, and ridge height, respectively, regardless of survey areas. The rafters interval was about 0.7~0.8m. In elevated hydroponic cultivation, the width, height, and interval of the beds were about 0.25m, 1.2m and 1.0m, respectively. As for the strawberry varieties, the domestic ones accounted for approximately 97.5% with Seolhyang being the most favorite one at about 65.0%. As for the internal environment factors of greenhouses, 38 farmers measured only temperature and relatively humidity. As for hydroponics, the farmers used a hydroponics control system. Except for the farmers that introduced a smart farm system for temperature and humidity control, approximately 85.0% controlled temperature and humidity only with a control panel for side windows and ventilation fans. As for heating and heat insulation, all of the farmers were using water curtains with many farmers using an oil or electric boiler, radiating lamp or non-woven fabric, as well, when necessary.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.737-741
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• 1999

We surveyed the physiological disorders of fruit vegetables grown in the greenhouse in Kyungbuk province in 1998. Greenhouses used for cultivation were mostly single or multi-span iron pipe houses covered with polyethylene film. Single span greenhouses were used for strawberry, oriental melon and watermelon. Fifty six percent of the surveyed farms was a mono-cropping system for oriental melon and tomato. There were greenhouses used for successive cultivation for 10 years or more for strawberry and oriental melon in Koryeong and Seongju. Varieties of fruit vegetables cultivated were diverse, especially in cucumber and watermelon. In strawberry, malformed fruits were observed most frequently in March and the small fruits at late harvest period. Leaf chlorosis, stunt plants and runner outbreak were also found during the growing season. In tomato, occurrence of malformed fruits was severe from March to May, and occurrence of cracked fruits and blossom- end rot was also severe in October and November. The self topping and abnormal stem in tomato were problem in hydroponic cultures in August and November, respectively. Malformed cucumber fruits, such as curved, club shaped, irregular shaped and narrow necked, occurred at late season. Umbrella-shaped leaf in cucumber in summer were caused by calcium deficiency. Most serious disorders were fermented and malformed fruits occurring from March to May in oriental melon, and cracked fruits occurring from April to May in watermelon. At late growing stage of melons the leaf chlorosis occurred with complex symptoms of leaf disease. Growers had little knowledge on physiological disorders, and also on diagnose and measures to cure the disorders. Most growers pointed out that poor soil environment and temperature management in the greenhouse as the main causes of physiological disorders.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.417-424
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• 2002

This study was conducted to develop a vehicle, leading or following a worker at a certain distance to assist laborious transporting works in greenhouses. A prototype vehicle was tested in the practical field conditions using a developed control algorithm. Results of this study were summarized as following: 1. The sensing device consisted of infrared sensors was attached to the front of the vehicle and turning following algorithm was developed to make the vehicle turned as it follows a worker simultaneously. 2. The measured average power consumptions were 110W and 89W, equivalent to 5.2-6.4 hrs battery durations, at low speed with and without the maximum payload, respectively. 3. Results of the travel tests showed that the deviations from the center of row spacing were $\pm$100 mm along the ridge and $\pm$85 mm along the hydroponic bed in the greenhouse. Therefore, the worker-following transport vehicle was feasible to travel along the row without collision in the greenhouse.