• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Organic fertilizers in watermelon cultivation are widely used to supply nutrient and organic matter. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of application rate of organic fertilizer on the watermelon growth and soil chemical properties in greenhouse METHODS AND RESULTS: The organic fertilizers used in this experiment were mixed expeller cake (MEC) and mixed organic fertilizer (MOF). The treatments were conducted with 4 levels (1.0 N, 0.7 N, 0.5 N and 0.3 N) on the basis of soil testing nitrogen fertilization (STNF) using MEC or MOF as the basal dressing, and using chemical fertilizers (CF) as the additional dressing on the rest of STNF. These fertilizations were compared to CF 1.0 N (0.3 N as the basal and 0.7 N as the additional dressing) and non fertilization (NF). The leaf area of watermelon in treatment 0.5 N and 0.3 N using MEC or MOF was similar to CF treatment. The absorbed nutrient amounts by leaf, weight and sugar contents of fruit in the 0.5 N and 0.3 N treatments were higher than other treatments. In 0.5 N and 0.3 N treatments using MEC or MOF on the basis of STNF, soil chemical properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), available $P_2O_5$ and exchangeable K concentrations after experiment showed tendency to decreasing or similar level before experiment. CONCLUSION(s): These results suggest that the MEC or MOF application as the basal dressing at the 30~50% level of STNF and CF application as the additional dressing on the rest of STNF be best to maintain adequate nutrient of soil and to increase marketable yield for watermelon.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.743-749
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• 2010

Objective of this research was to investigate the effect of various potassium concentrations in fertilizer solution on growth of and nutrient uptake by 'Chugyang' eggplant ($Solanum$ $melongena$ L.). Tissue analyses were conducted to determine the threshold levels of potassium in plants when disorders develop for potassium. The lower leaves of K deficient plants became spotted, yellowing in color, and finally necrosis occurred. The necrosis spread inward and upward. K toxic plants developed necrotic spot at the margin of old leaves and the surface of old leaves were twisted. The tissue K contents in the most recently fully expanded leaves and dry weight of full above ground plant tissue at 35 days after transplanting showed linear and quadratic response to elevated K concentrations with the equation of y=1.127+0.3147x ($R^2$=0.8916) and y=14.92+2.2743x-$0.1402x_2$ ($R^2$=0.8659). When 10% reduction in dry weight set to threshold levels, optimum tissue K contents are in the range from 2.1 to 5.1%. The yield through 150 days after transplanting and tissue K contents at 150 days after transplanting also showed quadratic and linear responses to elevated potassium concentrations in fertigation solution with the equation of y=153.24+345.5x-$18.46x^2$ ($R^2$=0.8620) and y=0.9921+0.3860x ($R^2$=0.9611), respectively. When the 10% reduction in yield is set to threshold levels, the tissue K contents for maximum yield should be around 3.4% to 5.9% in most recently fully expanded leaves.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.140-146
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• 2018

This research was conducted to determine the influence of incorporation levels of sulfur into a coir dust+pine bark medium (1:1, v/v) on the changes in the bicarbonate ($HCO_3{^-}$) concentrations and pH of soil solution, crop growth, and nutrient uptake of 'Ssanta' strawberry. In the preparing of the mixed medium, sulfur powder was added with the rate of 0 (control), 0.23, 0.45, 0.90, and $1.80g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and Hoagland nutrient solution containing $240mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ $HCO_3{^-}$ was supplied during the crop cultivation. The growth measurements and tissue analysis for the determination of nutrient contents were carried out 140 days after solution application and the soil solution analysis was performed every two weeks. As the level of sulfur was elevated, the overall growth of mother plants became better showing that the growth indexes except chlorophyll contents were the lowest in control treatment but the statistical differences were not found among the three treatments of $0.45g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ or higher sulfur. The higher the levels of sulfur incorporation, the higher the occurrence of runners and the growth of daughter plants. The length of the runners and the number of daughter plants occurred per mother plants were higher in the treatments of 0.90 and $1.80g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ than the three treatments of 0, 0.23, and $0.45g{\cdot}L^{-1}$, but the statistical differences were not observed between the 0.90 and $1.80g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ treatments. The rose of pH and $HCO_3{^-}$ concentrations in soil solution of root media continued all the cropping period, but those decreased slightly in the treatments of $0.90g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ or higher. The soil solution concentrations of $K^+$ and $PO_4{^3-}$ in the treatments of 0.90 and $1.80g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ was lower than those in other treatments and the statistical differences in the $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ concentrations were not observed among all treatments. The nutrient contents in tissue analyzed in this experiment were the lowest in the control treatments and those increased as incorporation rates of sulfur were elevated. Above results indicated that when 'Ssanta' strawberry is grown hydroponically and the root medium is coir dust and the pine bark (5:5, v/v) mix, the sulfur incorporation rate as pre-planting fertilizer has to be higher than $0.9g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ root medium to reduce the $HCO_3{^-}$ injury.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2012

Diagnosis of nutrient disorders in cultivating crops is based on the visual symptoms and results of soil and plant analysis. This study was carried out to investigate the influence of B concentrations in fertilizer solution on the growth of and nutrient uptake by domestically bred strawberries. Tissue analysis based on the dry weight were also conducted to determine the threshold levels in plants when toxicity developed in boron. The growth was seriously restricted in the three strawberry cultivars as the B concentrations in fertilizer solution were elevated. The fresh and dry weights were heavier and crown diameters were thicker in the 0.25 mM boron treatment than the other treatments tested. The toxicity symptoms of boron appeared on the older leaves of three strawberry cultivars while interveinal chlorosis symptoms appeared on the young leaves of 'Keumhyang' and 'Seolhyang' strawberries. The toxicity symptoms in lower leaves were developed when B concentrations in fertilizer solution were higher than 2 mM in 'Keumhyang' and 0.5 mM in 'Maehyang' and 'Seolhyang' strawberries. The elevated boron concentrations in fertilizer solution did not influence the tissue K, Ca, and Mg contents, but influenced the phosphorus contents with decreasing tendency. The tissue Fe and Zn contents decreased and increased, respectively, as the B concentrations in fertilizer solution were elevated. When the concentration of boron at which the growth of a plant is retarded by 10% is regarded as a upper threshold level, the boron contents based on dry weight of above ground plant tissue should be lower than 25.1, 44.2, and 62.5 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in 'Keumhyang', 'Maehyang', and 'Seolhyang' strawberries, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.83-99
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• 2001

This experiment was conducted to develop liquid fertilizer for leaf vegetable using the agricultural by-products such as dry chicken dropping, bone meal, rice bran, soybean oil cake and fish meal. Combination of 50% dry chicken dropping, 30% bone meal and 20% rice bran among several combinations of by-products was selected as materials for liquid fertilizer of head lettuce and cabbage. 50kg of materials with combination selected got mixed to 200ι of water, which kept under room temperature in greenhouse. EC and pH of fertilizer was stabilized after 35 days. On the decrease of bad smell during fermentation, addition of materials such as bioceramics, woody vinegar and active charcoal was not effected. And on rapid fermentation, addition of microorganisms and sugar had a little effect, but decreased the content of inorganic nutrients. Fertigation of liquid fertilizer developed on cabbage by dropping made head weight increased by 0.9kg per plant and nitrate content decreased by 276ppm in comparison with chemical fertilizer which was 3.5kg, and 2,426ppm, respectively. By use of organic liquid fertilizer developed in this experiment, yield of cabbage could be more obtained by 26% than in use of chemical fertilizer and income by 24%.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2010

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of applying levels of organic liquid fertilizer (OLF) on growth and fruit quality of hot pepper. The OLF was made with compositions of chicken dung : rice bran : soybean meal (2:1:1). Hot pepper was applied with 5 treatments; control (chemical fertilize), OLF-1.0X (standard applying levels), OLF-0.7X (70% of standard applying level), and OLF-1.3X (130% of standard applying level). The plant height was reduced at 23cm in the OLF-1.0X treatment compared to control of 293cm. The number of hot pepper fruits was significantly increased. The content of capsaicin in the ripened pepper decreased by 23.6% in the OLF-1.0X treatment with $253mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ compared with control of $331mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, but the content of free sugar increased by 19.5%. The content of capsaicin and soluble solid content in OLF-1.3X treatment were significant different with other treatments. The yield of red pepper in OLF-1.0X treatments increased by 15% with $4,190kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ compared to control of $3,643kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$, and OLF-1.3X and OLF-0.7X treatments showed increase by 10% and 6%, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2003

To evaluate the effect of the fertilizer concentration after flowering on growth a31d fruit setting of ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), plants were fertilized with $100\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N ($EC=0.8\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}) until flowering, and then with 0 (no fertilizer), 100, 200 or $300\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N (fertilizer solution EC of 0.15, 0.8, 1.45 or $2.10\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}, respectively) until harvest. Maximum leaf area and shoot dry mass at the end of the growing period were obtained when plants were fertilized with $200\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N. Total fruit number per plant at the end of the growing period was not different when plants were fertilized with 100,200 or 300 mg{\cdot}L^{-1}of N concentration. When plants were fertilized with $200\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N, the number of fruits per plant was decreased significantly as compared to 100, 200 or $300\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N, whereas the percentage of red fruits at the end of the growing period was maximized. Total fruit fresh weight per plant at the end of the growing period was highest with the concentration of $200\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N. The EC of the growing medium remained within 0.8 to $1.2\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}\;2.0\;to\;3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}, or 3.0 to 4.5 dS{\cdot}m^{-1}when fertilizer concentrations were 100, 200 or $300\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N, respectively. Throughout most of the experiment, the pH of the growing medium remained within 5.4 to 6.2, but dropped to 4.9 near the end of the experiment when fertilizer concentration was 200 or 300\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N. Content of most of the nutrients In the leaf was not affected by the different fertilizer concentration. Only aluminum was significantly affected and decreased linearly with increasing fertilizer concentration. The results from this study indicated that optimal fertilizer concentration after flowering for commercial production of ornamental pepper was 100 or $200\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1} of N. At these concentrations, the EC of the growing medium remained approximately within 0.8 to 1.2 and 2 to $3\;dS{\cdot}m^{-1}, respectively. This appears to be the optimal range for vegetative growth or fruit setting of ornamental pepper plants, and indicates that ornamental pepper can be grown with a fairly wide range of fertilizer concentrations.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Objective of this research was to investigate the influence of compositions and concentrations of fertilizer solutions on the vegetative growth and nutrient uptake of 'Seolhyang' strawberry. To achieve this, the solutions of acid fertilizer (AF), neutral fertilizer (NF), and basic fertilizer (BF) were prepared at concentrations of 100 or $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ based on N and applied during the 100 days after transplanting. The changes in chemical properties of the soil solution were analysed every two weeks, and crop growth measurements as well as tissue analyses for mineral contents were conducted 100 days after fertilization. The growth was the highest in the treatments with BF, followed by those with NF and AF. The heaviest fresh and dry weights among treatments were 151.3 and 37.8 g, respectively, with BF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. In terms of tissue nutrient contents, the highest N, P and Na contents, of 3.08, 0.54, and 0.10%, respectively, were observed in the treatment with NF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The highest K content was 2.83%, in the treatment with AF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, while the highest Ca and Mg were 0.98 and 0.42%, respectively, in BF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The AF treatments had higher tissue Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents compared to those of NF or BF when fertilizer concentrations were controlled to equal. During the 100 days after fertilization, the highest and lowest pH in soil solution of root media among all treatments tested were 6.67 in BF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and 4.69 in AF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. The highest and lowest ECs were $5.132dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in BF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and $1.448dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in BF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. For the concentrations of macronutrients in the soil solution of root media, the AF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ treatment gave the highest $NH_4$ concentrations followed by NF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and AF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The K concentrations in all treatments rose gradually after day 42 in all treatments. When fertilizer concentrations were controlled to equal, the highest Ca and Mg concentrations were observed in AF followed by NF and BF until day 84 in fertilization. The BF treatments produced the highest $NO_3$ concentrations, followed by NF and AF. The trends in the change of $PO_4$ concentration were similar in all treatments. The $SO_4$ concentrations were higher in treatments with AF than those with NF or BF until day 70 in fertilization. These results indicate that compositions of fertilizer solution should to be modified to contain more alkali nutrients when 'Seolhyang' strawberry is cultivated through inert media and nutri-culture systems.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2009

This research was conducted to investigate the effect of various phosphorus concentrations in fertilizer solution on growth of and nutrient uptake by 'Chugyang' egg plant (Solanum melongena L.). Tissue and soil analyses were also conducted to set the threshold levels of phosphorus in plants when disorders develop for phosphorus deficiency or excess. Brown and purple areas developed on the margin of mature leaves and it enlarged rapidly in P deficient plants. The fruits in P deficient plants were small and dull purple in color. When P were excess in fertigation solution, the margins of lower leaves became scorched and it enlarged to inner part of the leaves. The fruits of P excess plants became small and had the curl shape. The tissue $PO_4$-P contents in the most recently fully expanded leaves and dry weight of full above ground plant tissue at 35 days after transplanting showed quadratic response ($y=0.7887+0.2394x-0.0197x^2$) and cubic response ($y=10.43+14.47x-4.7642x^2+0.3977x^3$) to elevated $PO_4$-P concentrations, respectively. When 10% reduction in dry weight set to threshold levels, optimum tissue $PO_4$-P contents are between 0.98 to 1.35%. The yield determined at 150 days after transplanting also showed cubic response to elevated phosphorus concentrations in fertigation solution ($y=1194.6+1502.2x-454.5x^2+35.64x^3$). When the 10% reduction in yield is set to threshold levels, the tissue $PO_4$-P contents for maximum yield should be around 1.53% to 2.25% in most recently fully expanded leaves at 150 days after transplanting.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2008

Objective of this research was to investigate the effect of calcium concentrations in the fertilizer solution on growth and development of Ca deficiency in 'Maehyang' strawberry (Fragaria $\times$ ananassa Duch.). The margins of the youngest leaves were scorched and they developed a cupped shape as they were expanded in Ca deficient plants. The vein area of the youngest leaves became brown when the deficiency became severe. The quadratic responses were observed in dry weight production to elevated Ca concentrations in fertilizer solutions with the highest growth in 4.5 mM treatment. The regression equation was y=2.4026+1.0209x-$0.098x^2$ $(R^2=0.3546^{***})$. However, tissue Ca contents increased lineally as the Ca concentrations in fertilizer solutions were elevated (y=1.2108+0.1333x, $R^2=0.9189^{***}$). In changes of the fresh weight and Ca concentrations in petiole sap, fresh weight production showed quadratic responses to elevated Ca concentrations in fertilizer solution, but Ca concentration increased lineally. The equations in changes of fresh weight and Ca concentrations were y=9.273+4.882x-$0.4245x^2$ $(R^2=0.4935^{***})$ and y=52.311+3.2917x $(R^2=0.6918^{***})$, respectively. When the concentration of calcium at which plant growth was retarded by 10% is regarded as critical concentration level, the calcium contents based on dry weight of above ground plant tissue and in petiole sap should be in the range between 1.6 to 2.25% and 63 to $79mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, respectively.