• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.113 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2024

This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and nutrient dynamics in response to fertilization of four tree species (LT: Liriodendron tulipifera L.; PY: Prunus yedoensis Matsumura; QA: Quercus acutissima Ca rruth; a nd PT: Pinus thunbergii Parl.) planted in a fire-disturbed urban forest in Bongdaesan (Mt.), Ulsan Metropolitan Area, South Korea. The trees were planted in 2009, and compound fertilizers (N₆P₄K₁) were applied in April 2013 and March 2014. Tree growth, soil, and foliage nutrients were examined from March 2013 to October 2016. The regression coefficients for the increment of the diameter at breast height (DBH) significantly differed between the fertilized and unfertilized plots, suggesting the significant effects of fertilization. By contrast, fertilization did not affect the coefficients for height increments. Regarding soil nutrient contents, organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations were lower in the fertilized plots than in the unfertilized plots, whereas available phosphorus, exchangeable calcium, and magnesium concentrations were higher in the fertilized plots than in the unfertilized plots. In foliage, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were higher in the fertilized plots than in the unfertilized plots, whereas potassium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations were not affected by fertilization. Nutrient concentration of foliage among the tree species were higher in LT and PY than in QA and PT. These results suggest that fertilizers may be used to enhance soil fertility and the growth and nutrient status of tree species planted in a fire-disturbed urban forest.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2023

Climate change is more rapid in the Arctic than elsewhere in the world, and increased precipitation and warming are expected cause changes in biogeochemical processes due to altered microbial communities and activities. It is crucial to investigate microbial responses to climate change to understand changes in carbon and nitrogen dynamics. We investigated the effects of increased temperature and precipitation on microbial biomass and community structure in dry tundra using two depths of soil samples (organic and mineral layers) under four treatments (control, warming, increased precipitation, and warming with increased precipitation) during the growing season (June-September) in Cambridge Bay, Canada (69°N, 105°W). A phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis method was applied to detect active microorganisms and distinguish major functional groups (e.g., fungi and bacteria) with different roles in organic matter decomposition. The soil layers featured different biomass and community structure; ratios of fungal/bacterial and gram-positive/-negative bacteria were higher in the mineral layer, possibly connected to low substrate quality. Increased temperature and precipitation had no effect in either layer, possibly due to the relatively short treatment period (seven years) or the ecosystem type. Mostly, sampling times did not affect PLFAs in the organic layer, but June mineral soil samples showed higher contents of total PLFAs and PLFA biomarkers for bacteria and fungi than those in other months. Despite the lack of response found in this investigation, long-term monitoring of these communities should be maintained because of the slow response times of vegetation and other parameters in high-Arctic ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2003

The iufluence of abandonment of agricultural fields on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics is rarely addressed due to lack of appropriately paired sites. In this study, we identified three sites that have native forest and abandoned rice and crop fields at Mt. Kumdan near Seoul. Currently the vegetation of indigenous forest and the abandoned rice field is deciduous hardwood forest, while that of the abandoned crop field is deciduous shrub. We measured soil $CO_2$ evolution and inorganic N availability for the three sites from 25 July 2002 through 24 January 2003. Soil $CO_2$ evolution tracked seasonal soil temperature. Mean soil $CO_2$ evolution (g $CO_2$/$m^2$/hr) for the study period was 0.42 for the rice field to forest, 0.50 for the crop field to shrub, and 0.41 for the indigenous forest, respectively. Soil $CO_2$ evolution and soil temperature were not different among the sites; however, soil water content was significantly different. Soil water content had a very weak influence on soil $CO_2$ evolution. Inorganic resin N availability differed among the three sites and seemed to be related to soil moisture.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2018

For the estimation of greenhouse gas dynamics in forests, it is useful to use a model which simulates both carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycle simultaneously. A forest C model, called FBDC, was developed and validated in Korea. However, studies on development of forest N model are insufficient. This study aimed to suggest a development process of a forest C and N model. We analyzed the general features, structures, ecological processes, input data, output data, and methods of integrating C and N cycles of the VISIT, Biome-BGC, Forest-DNDC, and O-CN. The structure and features of the FBDC were also analyzed. The VISIT was developed by integrating forest C model with a N cycle module, and the new model also could be designed by combining the FBDC with a N cycle module. The VISIT and Forest-DNDC could estimate soil $N_2O$ emissions, and the integrated model should include the processes shared by these models. Especially, the overseas models linked C and N cycles based on N absorption, C absorption, and decomposition of dead organic matter. Therefore, the integration of the FBDC with N cycle module should apply this linkage of structures between C and N cycles. Climate, soil texture, and species distribution data, which are essential for the model development, were available in Korea. However, parameter data associated with N cycle and validation data for soil $N_2O$ emissions need to be obtained by field studies.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.295-303
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• 1997

To investigate the transformation characteristics of nitrogen and carbon from cow manure compost amended in soil under different moisture conditions, dynamics of nitrogen and carbon were determined periodically for 15 weeks of aerobic incubation at room temperature during July${\sim}$November, 1996. Cow manure compost matured with mixing saw dust was amended with the 4 ratios (0, 2, 4, 6%(wt/wt)) in Ap horizon soil, which collected from green house in Yesan, Chungnam. Moisture was controlled with 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 of mass water conte nt (${\theta}$m) to air dried soil, and water loss was compensated at every sampling. During incubation, soil pH was decreased continuously, that was caused by hydrogen generated from nitrification of ammonium nitrogen. And pH became higher with inclining cow manure compost amendment and water treatment, that meaned the increase of mineralization of organic-N to $NH_4\;^+-N$. Total nitrogen was reduced with increasing water content, but total carbon showed the contrast tendency with that of nitrogen. Therefore, C/N ratio slightly decreased in the low water condition (${\theta}$m 0.2) during incubation, but increased continuously in high water condition over ${\theta}$m 0.4. As a result, it was assumed that soil fertility is able to be reduced in the high water content over available water content. Nitrate transformation rate increased lasting in the low water content less than ${\theta}$m 0.3. Itdropped significantly in the first $2{\sim}3$ weeks of incubation over ${\theta}$m 0.4. In particular, nitrate was not detected in ${\theta}$m 0.5 of water content after the first $2{\sim}3$ weeks. In contrast, ammonium transformation was inclined with increasing water treatment. Nitrogen mineralization rate, which calculated with percentage ratio of (the sum of ex.$NH_4\;^+-N$ and $NO_3\;^--N$)/total nitrogen, was continuously increased in the low water content of ${\theta}$m 0.2 and 0.3. But it saw the different patterns in high water content over ${\theta}$m 0.4 that was drastically declined in the initial stage and then gradually inclined . From the above results, nitrogen transformation patterns differentiated decisively in water content between ${\theta}$m 0.3 and 0.4 in soil. Thus, it is very important for the maintain of suitable soil water content to enhance fertility of soil amended with manure compost. However, excess treatment of manure compost might enhance the possibility of contamination of small watershed and ground water around agricultural area.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2007

Soil aggregates, resulting from physico-chemical and biological interactions, are important to understand carbon dynamics and material transport in soils. The objective of this study is to investigate stable macro-aggregate (> 0.25mm diameter) in wet sieving (SM) and their relation to soil properties in 15 sites. The clay contents of soils were ranged from 1% to 33%, and their land uses included bare and cultivated lands of annual upland crops, orchard, and grass. Undisturbed 3 inch cores with five replicates were sampled at topsoil (i.e., 0- to 10-cm depth), for analyzing SM and physico-chemical properties, after in situ measurement of air permeability. SM of sandy soils, with clay content less than 2%, was observed as 0%. Except the sandy soils, SM of soils mainly depended on land uses, showing 27%~35% in soils with annual plants such as vegetable and corn, 51% in orchard, and 75% in grass. This sequence of SM is probably due to the different strength of soil disturbance like tillage with different land uses. SM had significant correlation with cation exchange capacity, organic matter content, sand, clay, silt, bulk density, and exchangeable potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg), whereas fluctuating properties with fertilization such as pH, EC, and water soluble phosphorus weren't significantly correlated to the SM. Particularly, exchangeable calcium (Ca) had significant relation with SM, only except soils with oversaturating Ca. This study, therefore, suggested that SM could perceive different land uses and the change of soil properties in soils, necessarily considering soil textures and Ca over-saturation.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2021

This study was carried out to understand how factors of decomposition such as quality of the substrate (tree species), forest types, and soil·meteorological conditions affect decomposition rates and dynamics of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of branches in adjacent Pinus densiflora and Quercus variabilis stands in Sancheong and J inju in Southern Korea. The branch bags (30 cm × 30 cm) with branch samples (a diameter of 2.0 - 4.0 cm and length of 10 cm) were placed on the forest floor at each stand in May 2018. The branch bags were collected in August and November 2018, February and May 2019, respectively. The decomposition rates of branches in P. densiflora stands were 4.49 % for Sancheong, and 5.75 % for Jinju. Whereas, the decomposition rates in Q. variabilis were 20.01 % for Sancheong, and 24.68 % for Jinju, respectively. The decomposition of branches was more rapid in Q. variabilis compared with P. densiflora in both regions. C and N in decomposed branches were more mineralized in Q. variabilis, whereas C and N were more accumulated in P. densiflora. These results indicated that the decomposition rates, C and N of decomposed branches may be affected by differences in substrate quality such as initial N concentration and C/N ratio rather than differences between both regions including different environmental factors.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.371-377
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• 2004

Sulfate adsorption in forest soils is a process of sulfur dynamics playing an important role in plant uptake, cation movement, acid neutralization capacity and so on. The relationship between sulfate adsorption and some physicochemical properties of four forest soils was investigated. Extractable sulfate contents and sulfate adsorption capacity (SAC) in the forest soils varied much among study sites. Extractable sulfate contents were more in sub-surface soils with lower organic matter and greater Al and Fe oxides than in surface soils. The average contents of $Al_d$ and $Fe_d$ in the sub-surface soils were 8.49 and $12.45g\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity and clay content were positively correlated with the extractable sulfate contents and SAC. Organic carbon content, however, was negatively correlated with the extractable sulfate contents, implying the competitive adsorption of sulfate with soil organic matter. Considerably significant correlation was found between inorganic + amorphous Al and Fe oxides and the sulfate adsorption, but crystalline Al and other fractions of Fe oxide showed no correlation. Relatively close relationship between the adsorbed sulfates and soil pH, cation exchange capacity, or amorphous Al oxides indicates that the accelerated soil acidification may substantially reduce the potential for sulfate adsorption contributing to sulfur flux in forest ecosystems.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.326-344
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• 2022

The fungal-like family Saprolegniaceae (Oomycota), also called "water mold," includes mostly aquatic saprophytes as well as notorious aquatic animal pathogens. Most studies on Saprolegniaceae have been biased toward pathogenic species that are important to aquaculture rather than saprotrophic species, despite the latter's crucial roles in carbon cycling of freshwater ecosystems. Few attempts have been made to study the diversity and ecology of Saprolegniaceae; thus, their ecological role is not well-known. During a survey of oomycetes between 2016 and 2021, we investigated the diversity and distribution of culturable Saprolegniaceae species in freshwater ecosystems of Korea. In the present study, members of Saprolegniaceae were isolated and identified at species level based on their cultural, morphological, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Furthermore, substrate preference and seasonal dynamics for each were examined. Most of the species were previously reported as animal pathogens; however, in the present study, they were often isolated from other freshwater substrates, such as plant debris, algae, water, and soil sediment. The relative abundance of Saprolegniaceae was higher in the cold to cool season than that in the warm to hot season of Korea. This study enhances our understanding of the diversity and ecological attributes of Saprolegniaceae in freshwater ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2016

Objective of this study was to evaluate the carbon budget on 40 years old pear orchard at Naju. For carbon budget assessment, we measured the soil respiration, net ecosystem productivity of herbs, pear biomass and net ecosystem exchange. In 2015, pear orchard released about $25.6ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ by soil respiration. And $27.9ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ was sequestrated by biomass growth. Also about $12.6ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ was stored at pruning branches and about $5.2ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ for photosynthesis of herbs. As a result, 25.6 ton of $CO_2$ per ha is annually released to atmosphere. At the same time about 45.7 ton of $CO_2$ was sequestrated from atmosphere. When it sum up the amount of $CO_2$ release and sequestration, approximately $20.1ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ was sequestrated by pear orchard in 2015, and it showed no significant differences with net ecosystem exchanges ($17.8ton\;CO_2\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$) by eddy covariance method with the same period. Continuous research using various techniques will help the understanding of $CO_2$ dynamics in agroecosystem and it can be able to present a new methodology for assessment of carbon budget in woody crop field. Futhermore, it is expected that the this study can be used as the basic data to be recognized as a carbon sink.