• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Although 1 M $NH_4OAc$ (pH 7.0) is predominantly used as the extractant of exchangeable cations in agricultural soils, this method is unsuitable for extracting the cations in saline and calcareous soils. This study was performed to select a proper method to determine exchangeable cations in vinyl greenhouse soils. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) in saline vinyl greenhouse soils were determined after extraction with 1 M $NH_4OAc$ (pH 7.0 and 8.5) and 1 M alcoholic $NH_4Cl$ (pH 8.5). Sum of exchangeable cations of the soils extracted with 1 M $NH_4OAc$ at pH 7.0 was 1.9-2.5 times greater than soil cation exchange capaity determined at pH 7.0, even though soluble salts were pre-removed. A similar result was found when the cations were extracted with 1 M $NH_4OAc$ at pH 8.5. Those results are mostly due to the overestimation of exchangeable Ca and Mg, linked to a partial dissolution of sparingly soluble salts in $NH_4OAc$ solution. When extracted with 1 M alcoholic $NH_4Cl$ at pH 8.5, extractable Ca and Mg decreased significantly due to the lower solubility of Ca and Mg carbonates in the extractant. And the sum of exchangeable cations was very close to the corresponding exchange capacity of soils. CONCLUSION: Alcoholic $NH_4Cl$ (pH 8.5) is proposed as a reliable extractant in determination of exchangeable cations in saline vinyl greenhouse soils. And soluble salts should be removed prior to the extraction of exchangeable cations.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.344-351
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• 1996

Microorganisms growing alcoholic distillery wastes were isolated from soil. Of them, the selected strain EL-9 had a capability of accumulating poly-$\beta$-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) when grown in alcoholic distillery wastes. The strain EL-9 was identified as a genus Actinobacillus based on the morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics. The strain EL-9 was named temporarily as Actino- bacillus sp. EL-9. The optimal temperature and pH for cell growth of Actinobacillus sp. EL-9 were 30$\circ$C and 7.0, respectively. The optimal medium compositions for cell growth comprised glucose 2%, NH$_{4}$NO$_{3}$ 0.15%, Na$_{2}$HP0$_{4}$-12H$_{2}$O 0.25%, KH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$ 0.25%, MgSO$_{4}$4-7H$_{2}$O 0.15%, FeSO$_{4}$-7H$_{2}$O 0.005%, CaCl$_{2}$-2H$_{2}$O 0.003% and trace element solution 5m/l. To investigate the optimal conditions for PHB production, two-stage culture technique was used. The result showed that the optimal conditions for PHB production are identical those for cell growth. When propionic acid was added as a cosubstrate, PHB/HV copolymer was produced.