• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.172-181
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• 2001

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) system employs granular sludge to treat various wastewaters including landfill leachate. CH$_4$ production of the granules determines overall performance of a UASB reactor. Sludge granules are developed by self-granulation of microorganisms and dynamic balance between granule growth and decay results in coexistence of granules with different sizes in the reactor. In this study, granules taken from a laboratory-scale UASB reactor were classified into 4 groups based on their diameters and their Physicochemical characteristics we were investigated. Each group was analyzed for settling ability, specific methanogenic activity (SMA), and elemental content. Settling ability was proportional to granule diameter. suggesting effective detainment of larger granules in the reactor. When acetate or glucose was used as a substrate, all groups showed relatively slight difference in SMA. However SMA with a volatile fatty acid mixture showed significant increase with granule diameter, suggesting better establishment of syntrophic relationship in larger granules. Larger granules showed higher value of SMA upon environmental changes (i.e., PH, temperature, or toxicant concentration). Comparative analysis of elemental contents showed that content (dry weight %) of most tested elements (iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, nickel. and manganese) deceased with granule diameter, suggesting importance of these elements for initial granulation. Taken together, this study verified experimentally that Physicochemical Properties of granules are related to granule size distributions. Overall results of physicochemical characterization supports that larger.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.160-166
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• 2009

We estimated site productivity for unstocked land based on the relationship between site index (i.e., average height of dominant trees at fixed age) and soil physico-chemical properties of Pinus densiflora stands. Site index relates to a direct method of determining a tree's response to a specific environment such as forest soil and climate conditions. We selected 78 sites in 22 P. densiflora stands of central temperate forest zone, and sampled soils for physicochemical analyzing. And 13 properties of soils were statistically treated by stepwise regression. In the degree of contribution of the variables to site index, the highly effective variables in A horizon were OM, clay content, sand content, available $P_2O_5$, and Exch. $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ inorder, and in B horizon T.N., O.M., Soil pH, cation exchange capacity(C.E.C.), and sand content in order. In both A and B horizon of the soil for P. densiflora stands, the variables commonly contributed to the site index were sand content and OM. These results may be useful to provide not only important criteria for establishment of Pinus densiflora stand sespecially in unstocked land but also aguidance for reforestation.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.262-266
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• 2003

The present study was carried out to investigate the relationships among intertillage and muddying by free-ranging ducks (Chinese native ducks) and pH, dissolved oxygen of irrigation water, and physicochemical properties of soil. Two paddy fields comprised of the muddying (muddy water without physical stimulation to a rice plant by the ducks) and the control plots (no ducks) were used for this study. As a muddying plot, 50 hills were randomly selected and each hill was fenced with a wire net in order to prevent from stimulating physically by the ducks. The variation in irrigation pH was smaller in the muddying plot than the control plot, and the pH was around 7.4. Dissolved oxygen was significantly higher (P＜0.01) in the muddying plot than the control plot during the first half period after the ducks were introduced. Then it decreased rapidly as the rice plants grew in all plots. The contents of the suspended soil and turbidity in irrigation water were not changed over the free-ranging period, but $\textrm{NH}_3\textrm{-N}$ and $\textrm{P}_2\textrm{O}_5$ were decreased by intertillage and muddying by the ducks. There were no differences in both the soil physics and chemistry between the muddying plot and the control plot during and after finishing of the free-ranging period. These results indicate that intertillage and muddying by the ducks resulted in a small variation in stagnant water pH, and reduced the dissolved oxygen and $\textrm{P}_2\textrm{O}_5$, although the physiochemical properties of soil were not changed.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2015

Storage root yield of sweetpotato was decreasing owing to continuous sweetpotato cropping, debasement of soil physical properties, increasing incidence of pest and disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in physicochemical properties of the soil owing to subsoiling (subsoiling to 50 cm depth), and the effect on growth and yield of sweetpotato. The subsoiling treatments included subsoiling treated every year for two years, subsoiling in the first year, and no subsoiling control. The soil physical properties measured were bulk density, hardness, porosity, three phase. Bulk density, porosity, soild (%) of three phase were improved by subsoiling in topsoil and subsoil. Main vine length and vine yield in subsoiling soil were higher than those in no subsoiling soil, but those were not significantly different. Yield of marketable storage root in subsoiling soils treated every year for two years and treated in the first year was more increased 17% and 20% than no subsoiling soil, respectively. The number of marketable storage root per plant was also higher in subsoiling soils than no subsoiling soil, but it was not significantly different. Soluble solid contents and total free sugar contents of storage root of sweetpotato were not significantly different among the treatments. These results show that improving soil physical properties by subsoiling could promote high yield of marketable storage root in continuous sweetpotato cropping field.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2011

Heavy metal remediation in shooting range soil is a challenge over the world. The excessive Pb accumulation in the soil can deteriorate soil quality and fertility. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the efficiency of biochar (BC) in improving the physicochemical and biological properties of the soil and to evaluate its effect on Pb availability in a military shooting range soil. Sandy loam soil was collected from shooting range of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea and was incubated for 30 days with different application rates (0-30% w $w^{-1}$) of BC. The results showed that the addition of BC increased aggregate stability, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, and enzyme activities in soil. Sequential extraction showed that residual and organic bound fractions in the soil amended with BC increased by 33.1 and 16.7%, respectively, and the exchangeable fraction decreased by 93.7% in the soil amended with BC, compared to the unamended soil. We concluded that the application of BC could not only improve physicochemical and biological soil qualities but also stabilize Pb in a shooting range soil.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.659-671
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• 2021

The physicochemical properties of soil and the yield and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Sailmi) were assessed using Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Kowinearly)-rice double cropping systems in the paddy fields at Goseong and Miryang in southern Korea. The average temperatures during the ripening period were approximately 1 ℃ higher than the optimal temperature for rice ripening and the sunshine duration was reduced by frequent rainfall. Consequently, it was slightly below the optimal conditions required for rice ripening. In the soil at Goseong, winter Italian ryegrass cropping increased the pH, electrical conductivity, and the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen (T-N), available P₂O₅, K, Ca, and Mg than winter fallowing. Particularly, the contents of T-N and available P₂O₅increased significantly. In the soil at Miryang, Italian ryegrass slightly increased the electrical conductivity and the T-N, Mg, and Na contents. Therefore, winter Italian ryegrass cropping improved the physicochemical properties of paddy soils; however, Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping slightly reduced the culm length at both Goseong and Miryang, without markedly changing the panicle length or number compared to fallow-rice cropping. Furthermore, at Goseong, Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping slightly decreased the spikelet number and milled rice yield, and increased the ripened grain rate; however, at Miryang, contrasting results were observed. In addition, fallow-rice cropping revealed no differences in the head rice or opaque rice rates. The protein content was slightly increased in Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping, without significant changes in the amylose content or Toyo value, compared to that in fallow-rice cropping. The peak and breakdown viscosities were slightly decreased. These results indicate that winter Italian ryegrass cropping might alter rice taste but may not exhibit remarkable negative effects on rice cultivation. Therefore, Italian ryegrass-rice double cropping system is recommended for paddy fields in southern Korea. Nevertheless, to increase the rice yield and quality, fertilization standards for rice cropping that consider the changes in the T-N and organic matter contents in paddy fields caused by winter Italian ryegrass cropping need to be established.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) are hydrophilic molecules that can absorb large amounts of water. This study was conducted to investigate the enhancement of the physicochemical properties of sand soil blended with three SAPs imbibed with 100, 150, and 200-fold water. Three treatments were applied, namely, 100SAP, 150SAP, and 200SAP. The three SAPs were blended at concentrations of 0% (control), 3%, 5%, 7%, and 10% with sand. The pH, electrical conductivity, and cation exchangeable capacity (CEC) of soil blended with the three SAPs were pH 6.35-6.46, 0.09-0.65 dS/m, and 1.42-1.92 cmol_c/kg, respectively, and their capillary porosity, total porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity were 21.0-29.3%, 39.2-48.7%, and 272-470 mm/hr. CEC, capillary porosity, total porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil were positively correlated with the ratio of the SAPs (p<0.01). These results indicate that blending sand soil with SAPs increased CEC, capillary porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity, thus improving the nutrient-retention capacity, water-retention capacity, and permeability of the soil.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.130-134
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• 2010

To investigate effects of deep tillage before planting on physicochemical properties of soil, growth and fruit characteristics in cultivation of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris L. cv. 'Uriggul') under plastic film house, this study was conducted in cultivating field of Gochang Junbuk. pH in soil after harvest compared with soil before planting of watermelon had almost no change, but EC lowed greatly in the two treatments. Available phosphate concentration in the soil with the deep tillage treatment was lower, K concentration of exchangeable cation decreased greatly than these with conventional tillage treatment. In the growth at 27th day after planting plant, stem length to 10th node from the first node, leaf width with deep tillage treatment were longer, bearing node of the first and second flower and wilting degree were lower than these with conventional tillage treatment. In the growth of harvesting time, the stem length to 30th node from the first node with the deep tillage treatment were longer, leaf discoloration degree was lower than these with conventional tillage treatment. Also, the harvested fruits length, diameter, peel hardness, and weight were significantly better than these with conventional tillage treatment.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.618-623
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• 2012

The significance of soil environment has been gradually increased because of petroleum leak accidents. Comparing with wastewater clean treatments and air pollutant controls, the soil purification requires a long-term process and it is very expensive. In this study, we analyzed the physicochemical properties of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contaminated in soil. This could be applied to deciding the source of petroleum when a soil contamination accident occurs.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2011

We investigated the effect of Pb uptake by Pinus densiflora and the Pb fraction in forest soil. We also investigated the change in soil physicochemical characteristics, microbial activity, and root exudates of Pinus densiflora in Pb-contaminated soils. Three-year-old pine seedlings were exposed to 500 mg/kg Pb for 12 months. The metal fractions were measured using sequential extraction procedures. Additionally, factors that affect solubility (three soil enzyme activities and amino acids of root exudate compounds) were also determined. The results showed that Pb contamination significantly decreased enzyme activities due to soil characteristics. In addition, organic matter, nitrate content, and Pb concentration were time dependent. The results indicate that changes in the Pb fraction affected Pb uptake by pine trees due to an increase in the exchangeable Pb fraction. The concentrations of organic acids were higher in Pb-spiked soil than those in control soil. Higher rhizosphere concentrations of oxalic acid resulted in increased Pb uptake from the soil. These results suggest that pine trees can change soil properties using root exudates due to differences in the metal fraction.