• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were to determine optimal length of off-time between irrigation cycles to improve irrigation efficiency using a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor-automated irrigation (FAI) system for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivation aimed at minimizing effluent from coir substrate hydroponics. For treatments, the 5-minute off-time length between 3-minute run-times (defined as 3R5F), 10-minute off-time length between 3-minute run-times (defined as 3R10F), or 15-minute off-time length between 5-minute run-times (defined as 5R15F) were set. During the 3-minute or 5-minute run-time, a 60mL or 80mL of nutrient solution was irrigated to each plant, respectively. Until 62 days after transplant (DAT) during the autumn to winter cultivation, daily irrigation volume was in the order of 3R5F (858mL) > 5R15F (409mL) > 3R10F (306mL) treatment, and daily drainage ratio was in the order of 3R5F (44%) > 5R15F (23%) > 3R10F (14%). Between 63 and 102 DAT, daily irrigated volume was in the order of 5R15F (888mL) > 3R5F (695mL) > 3R10F (524mL) with the highest drainage ratio, 19% (${\pm}2.6$), at the 5R15F treatment. During the spring to summer cultivation, daily irrigation volume and drainage ratio per plant was higher in the 3R5F treatment than that of the 3R10F treatment. For both cultivations, a higher water use efficiency (WUE) was observed under the 3R10F treatment. Integrated all the data suggest that the optimal off-time length is 10 minutes.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 2017

In hydroponics, the nutrient solution is supplied considering the water and nutrient uptake characteristics of crops. However, as the ionic uptake characteristics are changed as a result of the weather conditions or the growth response of the crops, the root zone can not be maintained in optimal condition. In addition, the coir substrate has been used mainly for the tomato cultivation in place of the inorganic substrate, there are few studies on long-term cultivation using coir substrate. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of EC level of irrigation solution on tomato growth and inorganic ions of root zone in soilless culture using coir. Coir substrate mixed with 5 : 5 chip and dust was used. EC level of irrigation solution was 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. At the initial stage, $NO_3-N$, P, Ca and Mg in the drainage were lower than the irrigation level at 1.0 and $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. However, EC $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ or higher, all the ions except P were highly concentrated in the drainage. The average fruit weight was not significantly different between 1.0 and $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ until 3th cluster, but from the next cluster, the higher the EC level, the smaller the weight. The number of fruit and yield to 6th cluster was the highest at $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. From the next cluster, The yield was decreased with the higher EC level. At the early stage of growth, BER occurred only in EC $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, but increased in all treatments with increasing irradiation. The incidence rate of EC $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ was higher than that of the lower EC level treatment.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2011

This research was conducted to establish efficient methods to control root-zone temperature of tomato plant when cultivated in perlite bag during the summer season. Tomato plants were grown with four selected treatments; covering irrigation pipe by aluminum insulation material (Insulate), discarding nutrient solution inside the irrigation line before each irrigation (Discard), skipping irrigation for two hours from 13:00 to 15:00 (Skip), or no treatment as a control (Non). Based on the analysis of plant development index, all plants with selected treatments grew more vigorous and vegetative in similar growth patterns. The discard treatment exhibited the best root-zone temperature control among the treatments. The discard treatment also resulted in the best root growth and above-ground growth, followed by skip, Insulate and Non. The total yields were obtained by the order of Insulate, Discard, Non and Skip. However the marketable yield was obtained by the order of Discard, Insulate, Skip and Non. The net incomes treated with Discard and Insulate were 9,687,600 and 9,396,000 Korean won per hectare, respectively, exhibiting higher incomes than that of Non. Therefore, it was concluded that insulation of the irrigation pipe and discarding nutrient solution inside the pipe before each irrigation were the most desirable and economical methods in terms of costs and yields.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2014

This experiment has investigated suitable methods to improve precision water content monitoring of coconut coir substrates to control irrigation by frequency domain reflectometry(FDR) sensors. Specifically, water content changes and variations were observed at different sensing distances and positions from the irrigation dripper location, and different spaces between the FDR sensors with or without noise filters. Commercial coconut coir substrates containing different ratios of dust and chips(10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7) were used. On the upper side and the side of the substrates, a FDR sensor was used at 5, 10, 20, 30cm distances respectively from the irrigation dripper point, and water content was measured by time after the irrigation. In the glass beads, sensors were installed with or without noise filtering. Closer sensing distance had a higher water content increasing rate, regardless of different coir substrate ratios. There were no differencies of water content increasing rates in 10:0 and 3:7 substrates between the upper side and the side. Whereas, 7:3 and 5:5 substrates showed higher increasing rates on the upper side measurements. Substrates with higher ratios of chip(3:7) had lower increasing rates than others. And, with noise filters, the exatitude of measurement was improved because the variation and deviation were reduced. Therefore, in coconut coir with FDR sensors, an efficient water content measurment to control irrigations can be achieved by installing sensors closer to an irrigation point and upper side of substrates with noise filters.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2017

This study was conducted to set the optimum nutrient solution concentration by growth stage for new strawberry cultivars 'Berrystar' and 'Jukhyang'(Fragaria ${\times}$ ananassa Duch. cvs. 'Berrystar', 'Jukhyang') grown through hydroponics to improve the quality and yield. Three different EC levels were applied to the nutrient solution. The treatment levels were 0.7, 1.0 and 1.3 times higher than the nutrient concentration standard for 'Seolhyang' based on the 'Manual for strawberry cultivation' of Rural Development Administration. Based on the results, there were no significant differences in growth of 'Berrystar' by EC level. 'Jukhyang' showed the most vigorous growth grown in 1.3 times higher nutrient concentration. While the growth of 'Berrystar' and 'Jukhyang' grown in higher EC level has leaves with more chlorophyll concentration. However the quantum yield of leaves was not affected by the treatments. On the treatment with 1.3 times higher EC level, the weight, length, width and firmness of 'Berrystar' and 'Jukhyang' were significantly high. The sugar contents of the harvest analyzed by HPLC did not differed particularly, but the percentage composition of reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar were presented differently depending on the treatments. Marketable fruit yield increased as nutrient concentration increases. However, there were no large differences by treatments. Meanwhile, 'Jukhyang' showed significant difference by nutrient concentration and had the largest yield for a treatment grown in 1.3 times higher EC level. Based on these results, it is recommended to provide the same nutrient solution concentration level to the nutrient concentration standard of 'Seolhyang' for 'Berrystar', and the 1.3 times higher level for 'Jukhyang'.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.23-26
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• 2010

Commercial fibers such as two kinds of micro-fiber, flannel, and cotton were analyzed for their nutrient solution absorption capacity to select hydrophilic mat used for the irrigation management by drainage level sensor in perlite bag culture. The selected mat was evaluated in terms of absorption capacity. Cotton had the highest absorption capacity and was revealed to be the most appropriate for the control system.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.479-485
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• 1990

For the automation of a evaporation process, computer based evaporation system was built and applied to acquisition of the process variables with an centrifugal thin film evaporator(Centri-Therm, CT-1B). Controls of the process conditions were performed by computer system for pressure, feeding rate, steam, evaporation temperature and flow rate of cooling water. The data acquisitions were also performed by computer system for the changes in the concentration and temperature readings for steam, evaporation and cooling water at the both inlet and outlet. The control and the acquisition variables were collected through the interface device and analyzed by programs using the PASCAL language. To control the feeding rate during the concentration process, inverter was used. The cooling water for the vapor condensation was controlled by the valve controller and should be supplied with the flow rate of 125 kg/h. The maximum vapor condensation rate was 41.7kg/h at the feeding rate of 125 kg/h.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.568-574
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• 2011

Measuring tray as a component in irrigation control system using drainage electrodes was designed and applied for tomato perlite bed culture, and the effectiveness of the irrigation control system was investigated in terms of cultural development and cultivation costs. Five different types of measuring trays equipped with drainage electrodes were tested and the traditional tray was used as the control equipped with time clock. After the first experiment, "Tube-2" was removed because of instability of water content in the substrate. After second experiment, "Tube-1" was removed because of instability of water content in the substrate and low plant yields. In third experiment, "Up-Board" exhibited the best stability in water contents and yields as well as efficiencies in water and fertilizer utilization. The "Up-Board" was the most economical and the easiest system among the tested trays. Therefore, the "Up-Board" system was concluded as the excellent design to apply for the control method using drainage electrodes for tomato perlite bed culture.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2009

Organic materials reveal the remarkable absorption and high buffer capacity for nutrient. Hence, organic materials need some different nutrient management skill from inorganic one. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of EC level of nutrient solution on the yield and quality of cut rose grown in the mixed substrate of coir and perlite. 3 EC levels of nutrient solution was treated, which were 0.7, 1.0, 1.3 times of standard solution (Aichiken solution, Japan) for cut rose hydroponics. EC of the standard solution was changed by season following as 1.4 (Apr.~June), 1.0 (July~Aug.), 1.4 (Sep.~Oct.), and $1.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ (Nov.~Mar.) subsequently. The supply of nutrient solution was controlled by the signal of water potential at -5kPa using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor. As the results, marketable yield was similar for all treatments until 3rd harvest, but was decreased in high EC level from 4th harvest to 7th harvest as final. 0.7 times of standard solution decreased the ratio of unmarketable rose having short stem below 70cm and increased the ratio of high quality rose having long stem above 91cm. The flower weight and stem diameter of cut rose was higher in the low EC treatment than the others.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2008

This study was carried out to find optimum accumulative solar radiation in 'Carnidal' of Perlite Media. The pH was stable from 6.0 to 6.7 during cultivation. Electric conductivity by drainage was higher water than by supply water and electric conductivity was increased at later. Inorganic compound, such as phosphoric, kalium and magnesium were accumulated in crossed system. Especially, kalium and magnesium were highly accumulated. When solar radiation high, consumption of the amount of nutrient solution were increased. Sap flew was $273g{\cdot}hr^{-1}$ per hour from 10 : 30 to 11 : 00 AM. However there was no relation-ship between solar radiation and the mount of sap flew. When amount of solar radiation was $250W{\cdot}hr^{-1}$, cut rose 'Cardinal' nutrient consumption was 212.8 mL at nutrient supply of 50 mL. The yield of cut rose 'Cardinal' was 154.6 ea/10a in perlite media. In the cut rose 'Cardinal', nutrient solution was 50 mL as supplied at solar radiation of $200W{\cdot}hr^{-1}$ and nutrient solution was 30mL as supplied at solar radiation of $250W{\cdot}hr^{-1}$ at low solar radiation in perlite.