• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2011

This study was conducted to gain preliminary data for restoration and management of constructed small-scale ponds in paddy fields through analysis of their physicochemical and biological properties. A field survey was performed at 13 small-scale ponds located in paddy fields from August 2009 to October 2010. Structural properties, water quality, soil characteristics and fish fauna were measured. Results showed that small-scale ponds without frames might lose their function over time because of crumbling walls. Therefore, it is necessary for these ponds to have frames for soil protection and sustainable maintenance. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentration were higher than the water quality standard for agricultural water in small-scale ponds. In particular, TN concentration was 8.03 mg $L^{-1}$ and over 8 times the water quality standard because of the presence of livestock such as cows and pigs in the study areas. Sand, organic matter and available phosphorus contents of soil in small-scale ponds was 53.4${\pm}$16.6%, 21.8${\pm}$9.74 g $kg^{-1}$ and 12.8${\pm}$7.59 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively indicating that sand and available phosphorus contents were suitable for plants in small-scale ponds, but organic matter contents was somewhat low in newly constructed small-scale ponds, and would take some time to stabilize for plant growing. Fish fauna was not diverse with only 4 species at all sites surveyed. Collected fishes share a common feature that they all inhabit paddy fields or canals with shallow water depth. In this study, all ponds were not linked to the streams and canals around them. It appears that connection to adjacent streams was the major factor controlling fish fauna in small-scale ponds. The results of statistical analysis were classified into three groups. Factor 1 was 26.3%, which shows a structural properties such as area and depth of small-scale pond. As for factor 2, it appears on 20.1%, showing water quality like a TP, suspended solids (SS) and COD. Small-scale ponds were classified into three groups by factor scores. Group I consisted of 6 small-scale ponds, which were larger than the others. Group III had higher water quality than the others. We conclude that the most important points to be considered for restoration and management of small-scale ponds is connection with adjacent streams or ditches and depth and size of the small-scale pond.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2000

This study was carried out to find out characteristics and contamination status of the urban-forest soils. Both topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (40-60 cm) samples were collected from Namsan, Changdeok-palace, Seongjusan and Odaesan (control). The samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and anion $(NO_3\;^-,\;SO_4\;^{2-})$ contents. Soil pH of Odaesan was the highest followed by Namsan, Changdeok-palace and Seongjusan. The anion concentrations of the soil samples were in the order of Namsan, Seongjusan > Changdeok-palace > Odaesan. The relationships between soil pH and the anion concentrations showed highly significant negative correlation, which indicated acidification of soil due to air pollutants such as $NO_3\;^-$ and $SO_4\;^{2-}$ was going on. The heavy metal contents of the soils of urban-forest were higher than those of control. Heavy metal contents in the topsoil were higher than those in the subsoil. Since urban-forest soils were quite vulnerable to acidification and heavy metal accumulation due to chronic exposure to air pollutants such as automobile exhaust, a comprehensive countermeasure not to deteriorate urban-forest ecology must be prepared in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2004

As one of the typical farming practices in the sloped upland in Pyeongchang and Hongcheon area, application of piling with coarse saprolite materials has been practiced by farmers for several reasons such as reduction of damage by monocropping, better development of plant roots, and better drainage. However, adverse effect on application of coarse saprolite soil materials to environmental aspects should not be ignored. Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of coarse saprolite materials in upland fields in Pyeongchang area. According to particle size distribution of coarse saprolite materials, averaged gravel contents for Pyeongchang and Hongcheon county were 16.7 and 25.3%, respectively. There was no significant difference in gravel contents by soil depth, and CV values for each particle size ranged from 20 to 40%, which implied that application of coarse material with similar properties. When we compared CEC values of dressed soil with or without considering gravel content, CEC values decreased as increasing gravel contents. The penetration resistances were 0.04-7.48 MPa at the 0 to 10 cm surface soil, and 0.10 to 8.80 MPa at the depth below 11 cm. The bulk density of the soil was $1.15g\;cm^{-3}$ at the surface soil and 1.29 to $1.35g\;cm^{-3}$ at the soil depth below 10 cm. The organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and avaliable $P_2O_5$ concentrations of soil in upland where piling with saprolite materials of Pyeongchang area applied were $12.4g\;kg^{-1}$, $7.1cmol_c\;kg^{-1}$, and $526mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Cation exchange capacity was lower than that of averaged Korean upland soil, while available $P_2O_5$ concentration was relatively higher than that of averaged Korean upland, which indicated high input of various fertilizers.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.35-45
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• 2016

Clays, which are abundant in nature and eco-friendly, have been utilized throughout human history due to their characteristic physicochemical properties. Recently, a variety of clays such as montmorillonite, kaolinite, sepiolite and layered double hydroxide with or without chemical modification have been extensively studied for potential application in industries. Clays that possess a large specific surface area, high aspect ratio, nanometer sized layer thickness and controllable surface charge could be utilized as polymer fillers after appropriate chemical modifications. These modified clays can improve mechanical and gas barrier properties of polymer materials but also provide sustained antibacterial activity to polymer films. Furthermore, engineered clays can be utilized as scavengers for chemical or biological pollutants in water or soil, because they have desirable adsorption properties and chemical specificity. In this review, we are going to introduce recent researches on engineered clays for potential applications in future industries such as food packaging and environmental remediation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.33 no.2 s.109
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• pp.48-59
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the ecological characteristics of herbaceous communities by systematic and scientific analysis of their structure and diversity in the Midongsan Arboretum and to offer raw data for a long-tenn monitoring study. The importance value and diversity index of species appearing in twenty plots from July to September, 2004 were analyzed and a management plan for these communities is presented. Vascular plants were represented by 60 taxa of 23 families, 51 genera, 50 species and 10 varieties. Based on the results of importance value analysis, the most dominant species was Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, followed by Setaria viridis and Erigeron canadensis. The diversity index analysis showed that plot no. 5 had the highest H' and H'_{max}$(2.0135 and 2.6391). It's species composition was comparatively more diverse and it's structure more stable than other plots. Artemisia montana and Dactylis glomerata showed the highest correlation between species. Because herbaceous communities are important biological habitats and provide important function in environmental conservation, it is important to properly preserve these communities. At the same time, in order to preserve genetic resources and improve spatial function, it may be necessary to consider removing herbaceous communities in certain areas. In the future, the relations between physicochemical soil properties and herbaceous communities should be examined and community movement should be studied.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 1993

For the production of biodegradable polymers from microorganisms a bacterial strain producing a biopolymer was isolated from soil. The bacteriological characteristics of this strain and physicochemical Properties of the biopolymer produced were investigated. The bacterial strain was identified as an alkalophilic Alcaligenes sp. The Purified biopolymer treated with cetylpridinium chloride and acetone was identified as an acidic biopolymer having carboxyl groups and showed strong UV absorbance (at 210nm). The biopolymer was composed of 100% glutamic acid and glutamic acid existed as $\gamma$-polyglutamic acid($\gamma$-PGA) in the form of the $\gamma$-peptide bond. The equivalent weight of this $\gamma$-PGA was estimated about 350, indicating that one acidic fraction per 2.7 residue of $\gamma$-polyglutamic acid existed. The molecular weight was $6.5{\times}10^5$ Daltons.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.644-649
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• 2010

The main objective of this research was to evaluate physicochemical properties of commercially available fertilizer manufactured with different sources (swine, cattle, poultry, and mixed manure) in Korea. Results of this research showed that average content of organics was ranged 39.11-40.78% depending on different sources with the highest value in swine manure. Average water contents in fertilizer was ordered swine > cattle > mixed > poultry, and ranged 37.00-42.16%. Total of 8 heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) were investigated and no significant difference was observed for average concentration of heavy metals depending on different sources except Zn and Cu. For both heavy metals, fertilizer manufactured with swine manure showed higher concentration (346.34 mg/kg for Zn and 117.00 mg $kg^{-1}$ for Cu) than other fertilizers mainly due to feed contents. More long term monitoring would be necessary to make best management practice for commercially available fertilizer in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate adsorption characteristics of MTBE and Cd depending upon types of clay minerals md their physicochemical properties. The adsorption characteristics were examined by batch adsorption test on various experimental parameters such as adsorption time, ratio of solution to soil, concentration of contaminants, content of organic matter, pH, and zeta potential. The adsorption efficiency of MTBE or Cd for three types of clays decreased in response to the increase of the ratio of solution to soil whereas their adsorbed amounts increased. MTBE was greatly adsorbed in the decreasing order of vermiculite, bentonite, and CTAB-bentonite while Cd was adsorbed in the decreasing order of bentonite, vermiculite, and CTA-bentonite. An equilibrium isotherm for MTBE was well fitted to Freundlich plotting whereas that for Cd was closely corresponded to Langmuir isotherm. The adsorbed amount of MTBE on bentonite and vermiculite showed the maximum at 1% and 5% of humic acid, thereafter diminished while the adsorbed amount of MTBE on CTAB-bentonite increased in proportion to humic acid. Conversely, the adsorbed amount of Cd on the addition of humic acid continued to increase regardless of types of adsorbents. For all types of adsorbents, adsorbed quantity and adsorption efficiency of Cd have been coincidently increased at pH 8 and they were further enhanced at pH 10 showing 90% adsorption efficiency. Upon pH rose, the zeta potential on each adsorbent began to decrease, while increasing Cd concentration led to decline of zeta potential, which in turn ascribed to lowering dispersion stability that could consequently enhance adsorption capability.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2013

Water quality and contamination of sediment is a growing concern in the Iksan stream of Korea. Heavy metal contamination and changes in the physicochemical properties of the stream were evaluated. Water and sediment samples were collected from six sites during the dry and rainy seasons; pH, DO, EC, ORP, turbidity, $PO_4$-P, $NO_3$-N and selected heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Zn, Cd, Hg) were measured. Results showed almost no change in pH between seasons. DO was highest at site 2 (~2.63 mg/L) in the dry season; EC (1,540 ms/m) was greatest at site 1 in both seasons. The ORP gradually increased from the dry to rainy season at most of the sites and was highest at site 5. Turbidity was highest at site 1 and gradually decreased from the dry to rainy season at all sites except site 3. $PO_4$-P ranged from a high of 1,193mg/L at site 1 to in the dry season to a low of ~1.2 mg/L at site 4. In contrast, $NO_3$-N was highest at site 3 in the rainy season (12,531 mg/L). Among the heavy metals measured, Cu and Zn concentrations were highest at all sediment sites. Cu and Zn are added to livestock feed to improve reproductive rates and can be carried to the stream with manure. Transport of sediment and heavy metals during the rainy season is the major source of stream contamination and it is important to continue monitoring and take necessary action in these areas.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.250-262
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• 2015

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of the vegetation structure in the sectin stretching between the Jilmoi wetlands and the Donghae Observatory and to set the criteria for the basic data for a management plan including restoration afterwards. 12 plots($10m{\times}40m$, $20m{\times}20m$) were set up to analyse the vegetation structure. The analysis of the classification by TWINSPAN and ordination by DCA, importance percentage and property, distribution of diameter of breast height, growth increments of major woody species, species diversity and the physicochemical properties of soil were all analyzed. Vegetation classes were divided into 3 communities, which are community I (Pinus densiflora community), community II (Quercus mongolica community) and community III (Quercus mongolica-Tilia amurensis community). The P. densiflora community declined when competing with Q. mongolica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Q. mongolica competed with T. amurensis on an understory layer in Q. mongolica community. Q. mongolica competed with T. amurensis on both canopy and understory layers in Q. mongolica-T. amurensis community. P. densiflora declined and it was assumed to succeed to F. rhynchophylla or T. amurensis through Q. mongolica based on the importance percentage and distribution of the diameter of the breast height of small and middle sized trees. The age of P. densiflora was between 47 to 51 years old and Q. mongolica was 61years old. T. amurensis was 61 years old and the growth of Q. mongolica slowed a little. As the result of Shannon's index of species diversity, community I ranged from 0.9578 to 1.1862, community II ranged from 0.7904 to 1.2286 and community III ranged from 0.8701 to 1.0323. The contents of organic matter and cation were low compared to uncultivated mountain soil and it were analysed to be inappropriate for tree growth.