• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Occurrence of earthworms for turfgrass growing seasons and effect of earthworms by some plant extracts and plant oils in golf courses were investigated at the three locations golf courses in Korea 2005 to 2006. There were no differences in monthly occurrence of earthworm except Anseong Benest Golf Club, namely, Anseong Benest Golf Club was highly occurred in July in 2006. Density of earthworm was not different between fairway and rough in Dongrae Benest Golf Club (opened in 1971) while density was higher in rough than fairway in Anseong Benest Golf Club (opened in 1999) and Gapyeong Benest Golf Club (opened in 2000). In case of Gapyeong Benest Golf Club, earthworm density was higher in old courses than recently opened courses. Effect of plant extracts such as mustard oil, wintergreen oil, Quisqualis indica, Daphne genkwa, Pharbitis nil, Zingiber officinale, Xanthium strumarium, and Camellia sinensis on earthworm, mustard oil, wintergreen oil and tea saponin were highly toxic to earthworm, Eisenia andrei. In the pot experiment, 100% of Eisenia andrei was dead at the treatment of 500-fold of aquatic solution of tea saponin (12.4% a.i.).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of saponin contained plant extracts on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics and methane production. Ruminal fluid was collected from rumen cannulated Hanwoo steers fed rice straw and concentrate (5:5). Collected rumen fluids, corn starch and buffer including saponin contained plant extracts (ginseng, Ogapi, soapwort, tea plant and yucca; 0.5%/15 ml) were incubated at $39^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. All incubations were repeated five times. Rumen pH in all treatments was lower (p<0.05) compared with that of the control (no addition) during incubation time. The concentration of total VFA in all treatments was higher (p<0.05) than that of the control after 12h incubation. Compared with the control, the concentration of acetate and propionate in all treatments was lower and higher after 6h incubation, respectively. The concentration of $NH_3$-N in all treatments was lower (p<0.05) than that of the control except for Ogapi or yucca extracts supplementation. The number of protozoa in all treatments was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the control except for soapwort extract supplementation. The total gas production and methane production in all treatments was higher (p<0.05) and lower (p<0.05) compared with the control, except for ogapi or soapwort extracts supplementation after 12h incubation, respectively. Therefore, reduction in methane production by saponins may could be results from decreased protozoal population without any negative in vitro fermentation.