• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.641-646
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• 2013

Chemical properties of agricultural soils in Korea have been investigated at four-year interval in order of paddy, polytunnel, upland, and orchard soils since 1999; polytunnel soils were investigated over the whole country in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. Polytunnel soils were taken from the surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface (15-30 cm) at 2,651, 1,274, 1,374 and 1,374 sites in all provinces of South Korea. One hundred sampling sites located in more than 400 m altitude were additionally investigated in 2008 and 2012. Average of soil chemical properties in 2012 except Jeju province were 6.6 for pH, 3.2 dS $m^{-1}$ for EC, 37 g $kg^{-1}$ for organic matter (OM), 1,049 mg $kg^{-1}$ for available (Avail.) phosphate, 1.58 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for exchangeable (Exch.) K, 10.6 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for Exch. Ca, and 3.3 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for Exch. Mg. Except pH, averages of all chemical properties exceeded the upper limit of optimal range. The median values except pH showed a lower value than the averages. The pH, OM and Exch. Ca had slightly increased from 6.3 to 6.6, from 34 to 37 g $kg^{-1}$, and from 7.7 in 2000 to 10.6 $cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ in 2012, respectively. The order of sample ratios exceeding the optimal range were Avail. $P_2O_5$ (83%) > Exch. Ca (80%) > Exch. K (70%) > Exch. Mg (65%) > EC (55%) > OM (48%) > pH (29%) in 2012. The order of sample ratios below the optimal range was OM (25%) > Exch. K (25%) > pH (20%), Exch. Mg and Avail. $P_2O_5$ (9%) > Exch. Ca (6%) in 2012. The excessive proportion of pH, Exch. Ca, Exch. Mg and OM slightly increased, while the insufficient proportion of those decreased. Approximately 55% of polytunnel soils exceeding EC 2 dS $m^{-1}$ was evaluated with salt accumulated soils having the risk of growth disorder of crops. Nutrient contents in polytunnel soils in Korea showed high level especially Avail. $P_2O_5$ and Exch. cations. Therefore, recommended fertilization based on soil testing or plant testing is needed for soil nutrient management.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

Arsenic is one of the most abundant contaminant found in waste mine tailings and soil around refinery, Because of its carcinogenic property, the countries like United States of America and Europe have made stringent regulations which govern the concentration of arsenic in soil. The study focuses on solidification/stabilization for removal of arsenic from soil. Cement was used to solidify/stabilize the abandoned soil primarily contaminated with arsenic (up to 68.92 mg/kg) in and around refinery. Solidified/stabilized (s/s) forms in the range of cement contents 5-30 wt % were evaluated to determine the optimal binder content. Revised Korean standard leaching tests (KSLT), toxicity characteristic leaching procedures (TCLP), Old Korea standard leaching test and revised Korea standard leaching test were used for chemical characterization of the S/S forms. The addition of 10 % cement remarkably reduced the leachability of arsenic in contaminated soil. The concentration of As in leachate of TCLP, KSLT, and old KSLT for soil are below the standard. However that in leachate of revised KSLT is above the standard. Because of extraction fluid used in revised KSLT is very strong acid. It is arsenic in s/s with binder should be exhaustingly leached. Therefore S/S process would not be available for As treatment in soil in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.5
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• pp.539-547
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity, spore density and root colonization in relation to site ages at expressway cut-slopes in Korea. Stabilization of exposed surface involved soil amendments and spraying seed mixture of turf grasses and/or nitrogen-fixing shrub species. Eighteen sites were selected with varying ages (2 to 16 years). Soil samples collected in October from each site were analyzed for fungal diversity and spore counts. Fine root samples from the plants were assayed for fungal colonization. Of the total 37 plants inspected in the sites, 26 species had endomycorrhizal colonization with an average root colonization rate of 18%, and with a range from 1 to 67%. The average endomycorrhizal colonization rate of initially introduced Festuca arundinacea which became the most dominant grass in later stage showed 22.8%, while that of Lespedeza bicolor which became the most dominant woody species were 21.6%. Naturally-invading Robinia pseudoacacia showed higher colonization rate in the old sites. Although site age did not show significant effects on fungal diversity, the root colonization rates of initially introduced plants decreased with the site aging, while those of invading plants increased with aging of the sites. The soil chemical properties, pH, N, and P contents, were negatively correlated with spore density, root colonization and endomycorrhizal species diversity. A total of forty arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species in seven genera were identified. Of the 40 species, Acaulospora lacunosa, Glomus aggregatum, Glomus constrictum, Scutellospora erythropa, and Acaulospora spinosa were the five most dominant species in the decreasing order.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.175-180
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• 2006

In this study, it could be found that the microbial movement in soil under electric field mainly occurred by electrophoresis and electroosmosis. The contribution of electrophoresis on the microbial mobility and flux was generally higher than that of electroosmosis. In the electrokinetic(EK) bioremediation of a pentadecane-contaminated soil, the microbial population increased simultaneously at anode and cathode regions of the soil specimen because both electrophoresis and electroosmosis affected on the microbial movement. After initial operation, the microbial population was high in order of anode, middle, and cathode regions due to their negatively-charged surface and oxygen generation at anode. However, the uniform contaminant removal was achieved by the microbial movement with two-directionality.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.205-217
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• 2006

This research was carried out to investigate the effects of some organic materials such as rice straw, compost, hairy vetch, phosphate rock, magnesium lime powder and ash in the organic paddy fields, and also to develope the new technique for better soil management using described materials. The results are as follows; Height and tiller of rice plants were higher in chemical fertilizer than rice straw or compost, however, those of rice plants in hairy vetch-rice cropping system reached to chemical fertilizer. The Eh value of soil has decreased consecutively since on 30th, May because of the rising of soil temperature by an increase in the activity of microbes. As a result of measuring yield and yield components, there is not significant difference between treatment. The application of organic materials enriched the contents of available phosphorus, exchangible potassium and calcium in soil, and, also improved the physical properties such as pore space rates and bulk density. From the viewpoint of soil management technology in organic paddy fields, the application of rice straw or organic compost might cause the decrease of yield compared with conventional cultivation system, chemical fertilizer, however, the application of hairy vetch residues of soil compensated for growth and yield as well as improved the physicochemical property. Therefore, it is assumed that the cultivation of hairy vetch for winter season can be one of the useful methods for organic farming system.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2002

The physical and chemical properties of cover soils of 10 waste landfill sites in Kyonggi-Do area, where social circumstances at present forces to consider the reuse of landfill, were investigated to provide the informations of soil environment which are necessary to establish the appropriate ecological restoration plan of waste landfills. The pH and electrical conductivity of soils were higher in landfills sites than in reference sites (area around landfill sites), indicating the salt accumulation in surface soil. However, total-N and organic matter contents were lower in landfills sites than in reference sites. In landfill sites, the total-N and plant available-P contents were less than 0.15% and 20mg/kg, respectively. Exchangeable cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na) and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) contents varied between the landfill sites, but were higher in landfills sites than in reference sites. The major exchangeable cation of soil was Ca. Heavy metal contents were much lower than the critical concentration which phytotoxicity is considered to be possible and the standard for agricultural land of Korean Soil Environmental Preservation Act. Therefore, the proper soil management plan to increase the soil fertility is recommended for the ecological restoration of landfill using natural or artificial vegetation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.963-969
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• 2011

The river-bed sediments from the major river basins were analysed for the chemical and physical properties to evaluate environmental safety for the agricultural uses. The samples were taken from 16 sites of Han river, 36 of Geumgang river, 27 of Yeongsan river, and 140 of Nakdong river. The total of 219 samples from the 28 counties were taken from the surface of the sediments at the depth of 50 cm. The particle density of the sediments was greater than $2.63Mg\;m^{-3}$ and the whole range of the density was $2.60{\sim}2.69Mg\;m^{-3}$, the average particle size was 0.7 mm whereas the size range was 0.075~0.85 mm. The analyses of the particle sizes by basins showed that Han and Geumgang river had particle sizes of 0.075~0.85 mm, while Geumgang and Yeongsan river had particle sizes of 0.25~0.85 mm. Geumgang and Yeongsan river tended to have greater particle sizes. The average values of the chemical properties were 6.3 for pH, $0.16dS\;m^{-1}$ for EC, $8g\;kg^{-1}$ for organic matter, $101mg\;kg^{-1}$ for available phosphate, 0.39, 3.47, and $0.93cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$ for exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium respectively. The greatest property at each basin was pH for Han river, Ec, available phosphate and exchangeable sodium for Geumgang river, organic matter, exchangeable calcium and magnesium for Yeongsan river, and exchangeable potassium for Nakdong river.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.968-972
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• 2012

Soil chemical properties of agricultural soils in Korea were investigated at four-years interval in order of paddy, plastic film house, upland, and orchard soils since 1999. Paddy soil samples were taken from the surface 15 cm at 4,047, 2,010, 2,110 and 2,110 sites in all provinces of South Korea in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2010, respectively. Soil chemical properties in Korea except Jeju province were measured. Soil pH and exchangeable calcium and available silicate contents increased with increasing the application rate of silicate fertilizer and with decreasing its application interval. Soil organic matter content also increased from $22.0g\;kg^{-1}$ in 1999 to $26.0g\;kg^{-1}$ in 2011. Average concentration of available phosphate in 2011 was higher than the upper limit of its optimal range for rice cultivation. However, exchangeable magnesium and available silicate contents were below the lower limit of their optimal ranges, which were 80% and 92% of them, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.635-641
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• 2012

The present study evaluated the effect of chitosan on the changes of soil chemical properties, soil microbial population, and yield of red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) for eco-friendly agriculture in an upland field. We utilized four treatment groups, control, foliar spray, soil drench, and foliar spray + soil drench with chitosan, and analyzed these variations throughout the seven, fourteen, and twenty one days interval. The pH values, organic matter, and available phosphate in the upland soil at the harvesting stage decreased in the chitosan treatment. The populations of bacteria, actinomyces, and fungi in the upland field were increased in plots treated with chitosan. The chlorophyll content of leaves was no significant differences between the control and the chitosan treatments, while calcium content of leaves was significantly higher in the chitosan treatments than in the control. In addition, the nitrogen content of leaves was no significant differences between the foliar spray and the soil drench. The yield of red pepper was significantly higher in the control ($383kg\;10a^{-1}$) than the chitosan treatments and the yield of soil drench with chitosan reached up to 95% of control.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1230-1236
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• 2012

To verify that the electrokinetic remediation is effective for decreasing salinity of fields of the plastic-film house, field tests for physical property, chemical property, and crop productivity of soils have been conducted. The abridged result of those tests is as follows. In the EK treatment, the electrokinetic remediation has been treated at the constant voltage (about 0.8 V $cm^{-1}$) for fields of the farm household. At this time, an alternating current (AC) 220 V of the farm household was transformed a direct current. The HSCI (High Silicon Cast Iron) that the length of the stick for a cation is 20cm, and the Fe Plate for an anion have been spread out on the ground. As the PVC pipe that is 10 cm in diameter was laid in the bottom of soils, cations descend on the cathode were discharged together. For soil physical properties according to the EK treatment, the destruction effect of soil aggregate was large, and the infiltration rate of water was increased. However, variations of bulk density and porosity were not considerable. Meanwhile, in chemical properties of soils, principal ions of such as EC, $NO_3{^-}$-N, $K^+$, and $Na^+$ were better rapidly reduced in the EK treated control plot than in the untreated control plot. And properties such as pH, $P_2O_5$ and $Ca^{2+}$ had a small impact on the EK. For cropping season of crop cultivation according to the EK treatment, decreasing rates of chemical properties of soils were as follows; $NO_3{^-}$-N 78.3% > $K^+$ 72.3% > EC 71.6% $$\geq_-$$ $Na^+$ 71.5% > $Mg^{2+}$ 36.8%. As results of comparing the experimental plot that EK was treated before crop cultivation with it that EK was treated during crop cultivation, the decreasing effect of chemical properties was higher in the case that EK was treated during crop cultivation. After the EK treatment, treatment effects were distinct for $NO_3{^-}$-N and EC that a decrease of nutrients is clear. However, because the lasting effect of decreasing salinity were not distinct for the single EK treatment, fertilization for soil testing was desirable carrying on testing for chemical properties of soils after EK treatments more than two times. In the growth of cabbages according to the EK treatment, the rate of yield increase was 225.5% for the primary treatment, 181.0% for the secondary treatment, and 124.2% for third treatment compared with the untreated control plot. The yield was increased by a factor of 130.0% for the hot pepper at the primary treatment (Apr. 2011), 248.1% for the lettuce at the secondary treatment (Nov.2011), and 125.4% for the young radish at the third treatment (Jul. 2012). In conclusion, the effect of yield increase was accepted officially for all announced crops.