• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

In order to evaluate the effect of various organic soil conditioner ratios on the soil moisture content and growth of Cotoneaster horizontalis, a container type for wall-planting experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Konkuk University under non-irrigation. The experimental planting grounds were prepared with different organic soil conditioner ratios ($A_1L_0$, $A_8L_1$, $A_4L_1$ $A_2L_1$ and $A_1L_1$), and a drought-tolerant ornamental variety of Cotoneaster horizontalis was planted. The change in soil moisture content, plant height, number of branches, number of dead leaves, number of leaves, number of shoots, length of node, length of leaf, width of leaf, root-collar caliper, chlorophyll content, and survival rate were investigated, from April to Jun 2010. The results of soil moisture content measurements were analyzed with weight units in the container type for wall-planting during the dry summer season. The soil moisture contents were significantly enhanced in the container type for wall-planting in increasing order as the amount of soil conditioner level was increased ($A_1L_1$ > $A_2L_1$ > $A_4L_1$ > $A_8L_1$ > $A_1L_0$). Compared to the control treatment application (amended soil with 100% + organic soil conditioner 0%), the highest plant growth was observed in the treatment of $A_1L_1$ application (amended soil with 50% + organic soil conditioner 50%). However, the differences between the organic soil conditioner ratio treatments of $A_1L_1$, $A_4L_1$, and $A_8L_1$ organic soil conditioner application were mostly not significant. The survival rate increased with the increasing application of organic soil conditioner, but in the control treatment application all the plants died. The experimental results from clearly demonstrated that the organic soil conditioner improved the survival rate more than the growth of Cotoneaster horizontalis. Therefore, Cotoneaster horizontalis is expected to be a highly valuable shrub for green wall systems, when considered for us in integration system or for increasing soil water contents in planting grounds.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1299-1305
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• 2014

For evaluating the effect of various artificial planting soil properties on the Euonymus fortunei 'Emelad'n Gold' growth, a container green wall system experiment was conducted in a wall of greenhouse at Konkuk University, Glocal campus. The experimental artificial planting grounds were prepared with different organic soil conditioner ratios (Control, $A_4O_1$, $A_2O_1$ and $A_1O_1$) and with drought tolerance and an ornamental value Euonymus fortunei 'Emelad'n Gold' was planted. The soil and plant characteristics were investigated from April to Jun 2010. The volumetric soil moisture contents were significantly increasing order as the amount of organic soil conditioner level increased in order to $A_1O_1$ > $A_2O_1$ > $A_4O_1$ > Control. At 4 treatment, soil chemical properties were inversely related to organic soil container ratios increase. The differences of root collar caliper, number of branch, and survival rate between the organic soil conditioner ratio were not significantly affected by organic soil conditioner. But, plant height, internode length, leaf length and leaf width were significantly shorter on plants planted $A_1O_1$ than plants planted other treatments. Therefore, Euonymus fortunei 'Emelad'n Gold' had good growth response regardless of organic soil conditioner ratio and the plant is expected to be a highly valuable shrub for the green wall system if it should be considered in integration with stormwater retention or as a soil conditioner for increasing soil water contents in artificial planting soil.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop soil conditioner using wood decay fungus. The effect of soil conditioner treated with SJ-28 fungus was tested by lettuce cultivation. Cultivating efficiency was investigated by the yield of lettuce. In the plot of soil conditioner treated with SJ-28 fungus (FPG) showed weight of lettuce leaves 4425 g of total yield which was greater than 2434 g shown in the control. Also the numbers of actinomyces and fungi were increased in the plot of soil conditioner treated with SJ-28 fungus (FPG), beneficial for soil. The number of bacteria showed decrease in FPG plot. FPG showed possibility as a soil conditioner.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1993

Much attention has been given recently to solve the environmental contamination in golf courses Changing to culture practice rather than chemical practice that depends on pesticides and fertilizers is a hot issue in golf courses or grasslands. Organic soil conditioners improve soil-plant envirormental conditions rich in physical properties. In this study, measuring systems to evaluate soil conditioning effects were set up for on-site purpose. After establishing the methodology for evaluating soil conditioner effects, 2 kinds of organic conditioners were rested for examination. The systems for the methodology included a set of simulating equipment for field capacity, an impact type soil column compactor, and an infiltration-percolation system. Test results using the systems showed bulk density and infiltration rate of mixed soil were decreased at highter rates of conditioner, but total porocities were increased. Increased porocities were most capillary pore space which has a positive effect on soil water potential. The systems and methodology in this study seem to have an efficiency to measure the effects of soil conditioner on site purpose.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.86-93
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• 2002

The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of serpentine as a new soil conditioner for growth of turfgrass. To achieve the goal, pure sand or mixtures of sand and serpentine with various ratios were tested for soil physical properties and the growth effects of perennial ryegrass and zoysiagrass growth were compared. Major results of this research are summarized as follows; 1) Hydraulic conductivity of 10~30% serpentine mixtures were observed within the range of 1010~901mm/h which is good for USGA recommendation. Experimental results of pH and EC for various mixtures indicated that the 10% serpentine mixture was the most suitable for turfgrass growth. 2) Perennial ryegass treated with 10% serpentine mixture showed the highest visual quality(p<0.01) among all treatments. And serpentine treatment was more effective to improve visual quality of perennial ryegrass than that of zoysiagrass. The treatment of 10% serpentine had better visual qualities than that of 20% in both of zoysiagrass and perennial ryegrass. Treatment with the right amount of serpentine extends green period for one to two weeks during early winter in both zoysiagrass and perennial ryegrass. 3) In perennial ryegrass, the treatment of 10% serpentine resulted in an increase of total dry weight compare with those of zeolite or barley stone, and also dramatically promoted the dry weight by 15% compared with sand 100%(control). Total dry weight of zoysiagrass treated with 10% serpentine was 9％ higher than that of san. These results indicated that serpentine can be a good soil conditioner for both zoysiagrass and perennial ryegrass when it is blended with sand within a range of 10 to 20% by volume.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 1995

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of some soil conditioners, such as polyacrylamide(PAM), polyvinylalcohol(PVA) and Bitumen emulsion, on aggregate formation and stability, wetting angle, sorptivity and penetrability of the soil with different textures : sand, sandy loam, loam and clay loam. A pot experiment was carried out to find out the effect of treatment on the germination and growth of lettuce with three textures : sand, sandy loam and silt loam. Soil aggregates larger than 2mm in untreated soils at dry condition were naught in sand, 45% in sandy loam, 80% in loam and 90% in clay loam. Treatments of soil conditioners tended to increase the occurrence of soil aggregate larger than 2mm, which were 20~25% in sand, 55~75% sandy loam, but not affected greatly aggragate occurence in loam and clay loam. The aggregate instability was decreased by the soil conditioner treatment. The wetting angles of the soils were greatly changed by hydrophobic of Bitumen, but those were changed slightly by PVA and PAM application. The sorptivity and penetrability data indicated that the effects of different materials on these parameters differed depending upon soil texture. Application of PVA and PAM were no effect exceptive in sand. Application of Bitumen revealed that water movement was not showed in all soils. The germination rate, root weight and top plant weight of lettuce were increased in all soils by PAM treatment as compared to untreated soils. Particularly the greater effect was occurred in sand soil than in sandy loam and silt loam. PAM increased greatly the moisture content and air phase of soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.379-386
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• 2008

Calcined clay granules (pellet) have been used as a soil conditioner. The space among the pellets can secure drainage of water in soil and, simultaneously, can keep water for plants in the inner pore of that. However, the usage of the pellet has been restrained because fabrication of that requires a high energy and cost for heating over the temperate of $1000^{\circ}C$. Recently, SCS(Self-propagating Combustion and Sintering) method was developed and this method use the combustion energy of the preliminary mixed combustible. The SCS method is suitable to fabrication of small porous aggregate and requires a very low cost. This research applied the SCS method to coal refuses for fabrication of soil conditioner pellets. The coal refuses were pulverized under the size of $100{\mu}m$ and the pulverized powders were pelletized to the size of 4~6mm. The pellets were heated at the temperature of $1200^{\circ}C$ in the SCS furnace that was specially prepared for this research. Characteristics of the pellets were investigated and were compared with that of ordinary calcined clay pellet of kaolin; porosity, pore size distribution, bulk density, pH and etc.. Characteristics of the moisture retention in the pellets were measured by the centrifugal method: ASTM D425-88. The pellets of the coal refuses showed the higher values of the field capacity and the plant-available water than that of kaolin pellet. These results suggest the very low cost process that can utilize the coal refuses and can fabricate the lightweight porous soil conditioner of the very high plant-available water.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 1987

This experiment was designed to find out the effects of soil conditioner, Polyacrylamide (PAM) and Bitumen, on the changes of soil aggregate properties and crop yields. The soil conditioners were treated at the rates of 0.5% and 1% to sandy loam and silty clay loam soils. The aggregate stability, wetting angle, mean weight diameter and air permeability were analyzed. Pot experiments were carried out to investigate the soybean growths and soil property changes after the soil conditioners were sprayed to surface soils. Soil aggregate stability was increased remarkably by the soil conditioner, PAM and Bitumen, treatments. PAM was more effective in sandy loam than silty clay loam, but Bitumen was better in silty clay loam. Wetting angle of the soil was changed slightly by PAM treatment, but it was greatly changed to hydrophobic by Bitumen treatment. Air permeability, water infiltration rate and moisture retention of the soils were increased by surface application of soil conditioners, PAM and Bitumen. The growths of soybean in conditioner applicated pots were better than those of untreated pots from early stage, and the yields were increased 6-13%.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42
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• pp.195-211
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• 2009

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 1969

The adaptabilities of various nitrohumates (-K, -Na and $-NH_4$ salt) as a soil conditioner and a raw material for soluble phosphatic fertilizer were studied. 1. Nitrohumates (especially $-NH_4$ salt) protect the soil from fissures and control the phosphoric acid adsorptive functions of soils considerably. 2. Most effective nitrohumic acids as a soil conditioner were prepared with 15% $HNO_3$ solution composed of five times of original humic acids (by weight) at $80^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs under continuous stirring. 3. When 50% (by weight) of $NH_4$-nitrohumate were added to apatites in water and boiled for 2 hrs, maximum 26% of $P_2O_5$(apatite contains 37% of $P_2O_5$) were changed into water soluble forms.