• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.308-315
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• 2011

Ammonium- and potassium-loaded zeolite (NK-Z) and other four kinds of environmental friendly fertilizers/agents were applied to characterize their effectiveness on garlic (Allium sativum L.) growth and soil amelioration. Selenium dioxide ($SeO_2$) and germanium dioxide ($GeO_2$) liquid treatments significantly increased selenium (Se) and germanium (Ge) contents in garlic stems, garlic cloves and clove peels. In soil treated with ZBFC, Se contents in garlic stems, cloves, and clove peels was 13.89-, 12.79-, and 10.96-fold higher, respectively, than in the controls. The inorganic contents of plants grown in soil treated with functional strengthened fertilizers were also higher than in plants grown in control soil. Soil treated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) agents exhibited significantly greater spore density and root colonization rate than in untreated soil. The density of chitinolytic microorganisms in soil treated with colloidal chitin was also significantly higher than in untreated soil. The cation exchange capacities (CEC) in ZAFC-, ZBFC-, and ZBF-treated soils was 16.05%, 8.95%, and 8.80% higher than in control soil 28 weeks after sowing.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.460-467
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• 2009

This research was conducted for the purpose of investigating the influence substrates addition such as germanium or Granite porphyry gravel have on the growth of foliage, on the inorganic compositions of leaves as well as on root activity, in order to discover effective means of introducing plants to the indoors. Syngonium podophyllum, Dracaena sanderiana, Epipremnum aureum and Hedera helix were used as study subjects to which soil (mixed top-soil: Sunshine Mix No. 2, USA), tap water, tap water with germanium (300g), tap water with Granite porphyry gravel (300g) were added respectively and formulated. Studies on growth variations according to substrates addition indicate that growth of Syngonium podophyllum was most sluggish under tap water only treatment. Plant growth was most active under geranium-gravel treatment. In the case of Dracaena sanderiana, treatment of substrates addition had no meaningful influence on plant growth. However, the growth of Epipremnum aureum and Hedera helix was also shown to be most active under geranium-gravel treatment. Geranium-gravel treatment was shown to be particularly beneficial for root length, number of roots and dry weight. Root activity was analyzed on ten day intervals and there was discernable difference in the root activity of all the plants according to the varying treatments. In the case of the Syngonium podophyllum, the root activity was sluggish in all three types of treatment on the 10th day but improved gradually. On the 30th to the 50th day of the experiment, the root activity was found to be best under the Granite porphyry gravel treatment. In the case of the Dracaena sanderiana, the root activity was most active under the geranium-gravel treatment from the 10th to the 40th day but deteriorated from the 50th day. However, there was no significant different in all three treatments from the 60th day onwards. Analysis of the inorganic components of the leaves indicates that, while Ca and Mg were higher in the geranium than in the Granite porphyry gravel, they do not directly influence the content of inorganic components in the leaves. The results indicate that Epipremnum aureum and Hedera helix grow better under hydro-culture than when grown in soil and growth under hydro-culture is shown to increase when germanium is added to tap water.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.133-142
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• 2009

In order to understand the present environmental condition and future impingement of Changjiang(Yangtze River) outflow upon the adjacent seas after the scheduled completion of the Sanxia (Three Gorges) Dam in 2009, we tried to estimate the mixing ratios among surface waters of three end-members: Changjiang Water (CW), Kuroshio Water (KW), and East China Sea Water (ECSW) using $^{228}Ra/^{226}Ra$ activity ratio and salinity as tracers. Water samples were collected from 32 stations in November 2005 (R/V Tamgu 3), from 20 stations in July 2006 (R/V Ocean 2000) and from 17 stations in August 2006 (R/V Ieodo) in the northern part of the East China Sea. Radium isotopes in ~300 liters of surface seawater were extracted onboard by filtering through manganese impregnated acrylic fibers and following coprecipitation as $Ba(Ra)SO_4$. Activities of radium isotopes were determined by a high purity germanium detector. Results show that the fraction of CW was in the range of 1-23% in the study area, while KW was in the range of 0-30 % and ECSW 58-100 %. The eastward plume of Changjiang outflow, commonly observed in satellite images during summer and also displayed by the eastward-decreasing CW fraction in this study, could be attributed to Ekman transport caused by the SE monsoon prevailing in this region during summer. Results of this study showed that in the drought season, there was a little or no fraction of CW in the study area. Concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) showed strong positive relationship with the fraction of CW, suggesting Changjiang as the major source of nitrogen. The mixing curve of DIN indicates the removal of nitrate by biological uptake during the mixing of CW with ambient seawater in the study area.