• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2024

Rockwool substrate has superior physicochemical characteristics and is often used in crop cultivation. However, rockwool substrate has the disadvantages of high purchase cost and difficulty in disposal. Reuse of substrate can compensate for these disadvantages. Substrate must be disinfected and rehydrated during reuse, and various physicochemical changes during this process must also be considered. This study was to compare the physical properties of two types of rockwool substrates (reused and unused) and to evaluate the reuse potential of rockwool substrate by analyzing the chemical properties of the reused rockwool substrate during the rehydration process. The experiment on substrate physicochemical properties comparison was conducted from March to August 2023 using used rockwool substrates in tomato cultivation and unused rockwool substrates. Drainage time, drainage volume, and substrate weight were measured using load cells installed at the top and bottom of the irrigation monitoring system. The reused rockwool substrate weight and density were higher than those of the unused rockwool substrate, while the average drainage time after irrigation was 1.5 times longer for the reused rockwool than for the unused rockwool. The salinity concentration in different parts of the reused rockwool substrate was found to be lower in the reused rockwool substrate compared to the unused rockwool substrate. The electrical conductivity of the drainage was at its peak at the beginning of the drainage and decreased exponentially as the drainage volume increased. Change in electrical conductivity of the drainage over the irrigation time showed an exponential decay pattern. Through the experiments, the potential reusability of the rock wool substrate was assessed by conducting a comparative analysis of its physicochemical properties.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.106-115
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• 1996

This study was carried out to provide fundamental data for reuse of resources and prevention of environmental pollution Actual states of environmental pollution by biological production facilities were investigated. Various pollution loads and quantity of wastes from greenhouse and animal housings estimated. In greenhouse contents of investigation were wastes of plastic cover, noise of heater and fan, air pollutant of heater, and wastes of soilless culture system, etc. In animal housings, those were actual state of livestock waste treatment and reuse, pollutant mass unit discharge, noise pollution, and malodorant, etc. The main pollutants discharged from greenhouses were wastes of plastic cover, rockwool, and waste fluid of nutrient solution. Developments of waste disposal methods for plastic cover and rockwool are required. And recycle technique of nutrient solution for soilless culture should be developed and propagated. With the buildup of legal control, pollutant mass discharged from livestock wastes are, on the decrease. The other side, reuse of livestock excreta increased. Most animal housings are located near the dwelling house. Malodorant and noise from animal housings have bad effects on the rural living conditions. So developments of integrated complex for small scale livestock farms are required.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2021

This experiment was conducted to find out the possibility of use of reused rockwool and comparison of growth, productivity and quality of tomatoes according to the use of rockwool and coir medium. The experiment was conducted in an automatic controlled greenhouse at Andong National University, College of Life Science, located in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do.. As a result of the experiment, there was no difference in the number of leaves, plant height, and leaf area between treatments, and the crown diameter was slightly higher in rockwool medium, also there was no difference between reused rockwool and coir medium. Fruit productivity showed different responses depending on the cultivation environment, but there was no significant difference between rockwool, reused rockwool and coir medium. In addition, the quality of fruit was observed to be different according to the concentration of EC in the medium. Therefore, in tomato hydroponic cultivation, there was no difference in the type of medium in growth, productivity, fruit quality and the environmental and water management had a great effect, and it is expected that the reuse of rockwool will have a positive effect on the economic point of view.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.166-172
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• 2003

Rockwool slabs used for hydroponic cultures are expected to have potential to be reused after breakdown as a growing medium component for hydroponic culture of vegetables and cut flowers, pot plants, or plug plants. This study was conducted to test the feasibility of using particles of used rockwool slabs (PURS) mixed with woodchips for growing plug seedlings of ‘Nokkufang’ pepper. In the first experiment growth of pepper seedlings was tested in media of steam sterilized PURS mixed with chestnut woodchips (CW), which was weatherized for six months and screened through 2.8 mm or 5.6 mm sieves, at 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 28:75 or 0:100 (%, v/v). In the second experiment growth of pepper seedlings was tested in 20 different media containing steam sterilized PURS mixed with 4 mm chestnut woodchips (CW), 4 mm pinc woodchips (PW), coir, peatmoss, or perlite. In the first experiment, there were no significant growth differences as affectcd by particle size of CW, while the overall best growth was achieved il1 the control and l00% PURS. In the second experiment, seedling growth was enhanced as compared to the control in 100% PURS or PURS mixed with peatmoss, coir, or perlite. In contrast, growth was suppressed as the proportion of peatmoss or coir mixed with PURS decreased and the proportion of CW increased. Growth was better in the PURS + peatmoss than in the 100% PURS or PURS + coir, and when woodchips were mixed with coir than peatmoss.