• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.731-742
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• 2014

In the current study, we investigated effects of a combination of earthworm casting, environment-friendly by-product fertilizer, and cultivation soil of Gymnocalycium mihanovichii in a heavy fertilizing culture on diameter, height, numbers of tubercles, and chemical properties of soil thereby elucidating optimal mixture ratio for securing production as well as providing nutrients throughout cultivation period. The Gymnocalycium mihanovichii var 'Ihong', one of grafted cactus for export (Rootstock: 9 cm, Scion: $1.5{\times}1.3cm$ grafted cactus) was cultured in plastic houses of Agricultural Technology Center located in Naegok-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul from June, 2013 through December, 2013. For the control group, a mixture of sand and fertilizer (50:50) was used as this ratio is widely utilized in farmhouses. In contrast, a variety mixtures of sand and earthworm casting that was produced with food wastes was compared; the mixture ratios were 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100 and pH for these mixtures were found to be similar each other (ranging between 7.1 and 7.4) which is in an appropriate range (pH 6.5-7.5) for cultivation of G. mihanovichii. The organic content was increasing along with increasing contents of earthworm casting ratio while it was lower than the treatment practice group (32-43 mg/kg vs. 55 mg/kg). The content of exchangeable cation was also increasing as the ratio of earthworm casting was elevated; although levels of $K^+$, $Na^+$, and $Mg^{2+}$ were lower than the treatment practice group, the level of $Ca^{2+}$ was higher ($9.1cmol^+/kg$ and $11.5-33.7cmol^+/kg$ in the treatment practice group and the earthworm casting group, respectively). Three months after grafting, diameters of G. mihanovichii were compared with the control group; consequently, there was a significant difference noted in between the earthworm casting group and the control group (31.39 mm vs. 32.46-37.59 mm). After 5 months, growth characteristics of G. mihanovichii were evaluated. Similarly, the diameter of G. mihanovichii was significantly increasing in the group with higher ratio of earthworm casting treatment (32.63 mm vs. 32.49-37.59 mm). The height of tubercles was 2.63 mm in the control group while it was significantly elevating along with the ratio of earthworm casting mixture. The more numbers of tubercles, the more incomes for farm-houses; as results, higher mixture ration of earthworm casting resulted more numbers of tubercles compared to the control group (2.7 vs. 3.2-8.3 ea). In particular, in the earthworm casting groups with 80% and 100% ratios, the numbers of tubercles were 6.2 and 8.3 ea, respectively, which is 2.5 times more than those of the control group. These results indicate that earthworm casting treatment may be utilized in G. mihanovichii farming houses for short term production of tubercles. In the group with 40% and 60% of earthworm casting mixture, the numbers of tubercles were found to be 4.5 and 4.8 ea, respectively which is higher than the control group as well; in these groups, there were no issues with soil drainage as well as moss formation. Given the analysis results of growth characteristics of G. mihanovichii, it was concluded that 40% and 60% of earthworm casting mixture might be the optimal ratios.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2003

This pot experiment was conducted in order to observe the effects of application of combined micronutrients(T$_1$: control. T$_2$; Fe, T$_3$; Fe+Mn, T$_4$； Fe＋Mn＋Cu, T$_{5}$; Fe+Mn+Cu＋Zn, T$_{6}$；Fe+Mn+Cu＋Zn+Mo, T$_{7}$； Fe+Mn+Cu+Zn+Mo+B) on forage performance of pure and mixed cultures of orchardgrass and white clover. The first part was concerned with the changes in the growth, summer depression, and flowering of forage plants. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The T$_3$and T$_{6}$ resulted in a wide chlorosis induced by the Fe-deficiency on orchardgrass. Chlorosis was significantly reduced by the T$_4$and T$_{5}$, whereas the T$_{7}$, T$_2$, and T$_1$showed normal growth without chlorosis symptoms. The T$_{7}$ resulted in the best growth of orchardgrass both in the pure and mixed swards. There was no chlorosis symptom on white clover. whereas the T$_1$, T$_2$and T$_{7}$ showed a relatively good growth with deep green leaf-colour compared with the other treatments in the pure culture. 2. In summer, a summer depression occurred in orchardgrass: this was significantly reduced by the T$_1$and T$_{7}$. The treatments with chlorosis symptoms in orchardgrass partly induced a lodging. Summer depression in white clover did not occur. 3. In the pure culture, the T$_{7}$ and T$_2$in white clover resulted in many flowers and flower-buds compared with the other treatments. The T$_{7}$, especially, showed a long blooming period and an early full bloom compared with the other treatments, whereas the T$_{6}$ and is showed inferior numbers of them. Only the T$_{7}$ resulted in more flowers than flower-buds, and above 1 in the flower/flower-bud ratio except the T$_{6}$ in the mixed culture. 4. It was recognized that the chlorosis of Fe-deficiency occurred not only from the unsuitable ratios of Fe/Mn and Fe/Mo but also from the unsuitable mutual ratios among the cations(Fe, Mn, Cu and Mn), between the anions(Mo and B), and their total ion concentration. It was observed the multiple interactions of Fe${\times}$Mn${\times}$Mo${\times}$B, and the distinct role of B as a regulator.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.418-428
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• 2007

Physical and chemical properties of the aggregate by-products including sludge and crushed dust samples collected from the 21 private companies throughout the country were analyzed to evaluate possible usage of the by-products as artificial soil materials for plantation. The pH of the materials ranged from 8.0 to 11.0. The organic matter content was $2.85g\;kg^{-1}$, and the total nitrogen content and available phosphate content were low as 0.7 percents and $12.98mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $K^+$, and $Na^+$ were 2.29, 0.47, 0.02 and $0.05cmol\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Heavy metal contents were lower than the limits regulated by environmental law of Korea. Textural analysis showed that most of the materials were silt loam with low water holding capacity ranged from 0.67 to 7.41 percents, and with low hydraulic conductivity ranged from 0.4 to $2.8m\;s^{-1}$. Mineralogical analysis showed that the aggregate by product materials were mostly composed of silicate, alumina and ferric oxides except calcium oxide dominant materials derived from limestones. The primary minerals were quartz, feldspars and dolomites derived from granite and granitic gneiss materials. Some samples derived from limestone material showed calcite and graphite together with the above minerals. According to the result, it can be concluded that the materials could be used as the artificial soil material for plantation after proper improvement of the physico-chemical properties and fertility.