• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2020

East Asia, which includes China, Japan, Korea, and Mongolia, is highly impacted by hydroclimate extremes such drought, flood, and typhoon recent year. In 2017, more than 18.5 million hectares of crops have been damaged in China, and Korea has suffered economic losses as a result of severe drought. Satellite-derived rainfall products are becoming more accurate as space and time resolution become increasingly higher, and provide an alternative means of estimating ground-based rainfall. In this study, we verified the availability of rainfall products by comparing widely used satellite images such as Climate Hazards Groups InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS), Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC), and Precipitation Estimation From Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR) with ground stations in East Asia. Also, the satellite-based rainfall products were used to calculate the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The temporal resolution is based on monthly images and compared with the past 30 years data from 1989 to 2018. The comparison between rainfall data based on each satellite image products and the data from weather station-based weather data was shown by the coefficient of determination and showed more than 0.9. Each satellite-based rainfall data was used for each grid and applied to East Asia and South Korea. As a result of SPI analysis, the RMSE values of CHIRPS were 0.57, 0.53 and 0.47, and the MAE values of 0.46, 0.43 and 0.37 were better than other satellite products. This satellite-derived rainfall estimates offers important advantages in terms of spatial coverage, timeliness and cost efficiency compared to analysis for drought assessment with ground stations.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.100-113
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• 1978

Drying grain with conventional artificial drying methods requires great quantities of petroleum fuels. Depletion of fossil fuel increases the need of the utilization of solar energy as an alternative to petroluem fuels for drying grain , an energy intensive agricultural operation. Many techniques for the utilization of solar energy in grain drying have been developed, however, there are many problems in adopting solar energy as an energy sources for drying grain. Futhermore, very little research has been done on solar grain drying in Korea. This study was conducted to evaluate the availability of solar energy for drying of rough rice in Chuncheon, Suweon, and Jinju areas based on 50year meteorological data, and to analyze experimentally the performance of a solar air collector for dying grain, and to find the effects of solar heated air compared to unheated air on the rate of drying and energy consumption required for drying of rough rice. The results of this study was may be summarized as follows ; 1. Monthly average daily total radiation on a horizontal surface in October was 260.6 ly/day for Chuncheon, 240.3 ly/day for Suweon , and 253.4 ly/day for Jinju area, respectively. 2. the ratio of monthly average daily diffuse radiation to daily total radiation on a horizontal surface was approximately 0.41 for Chuncheon, 0.45 for Suweon, and 0.44 for Jinju area, respectively. 3. Although the statistical distribution curves of daily total radiation for the three locations were not identical , the differences among them were not large and may be neglected for many practical purposes. 4. I was estimated that the optimum tilting angle of the collector in October was approximately 46 degrees for Chuncheon and Suweon and 45 degrees for Jinju. 5. The ratio of the total radiation on a optimum tilting plane to that on a horizontal plane was estimated to be 1.36 for Chuncheon, 1.31 for Suweon, and 1.27 for Jinju , respectively. 6. The collection efficiency of the solar air collector ranged from 47. 8 to 51. 5 percent at the air flow rates of 251. 1-372.96 $m^3$/hr. High efficiency remained nearly , constant during the best sunshine hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and decreased during other hours. More energy was collected as the air flow rate incresed. 7. The average temperature rise in the drying air from the solar collector for the test period varied from $6.5^\circC$ to $21.8^\circC$ above the ambient air temperature. 8. Solar-dried rough rice averaged 13.7 percent moisture (w.b.) after 130 hours of drying with the air flow rate of 1. 64 ccm/$m^3$, and rough rice dried with natural air averaged 15.1 percent moisture (w.b.) after 325 hours of drying with the same air flow rate. 9. Energy saving of 2.4 kwh per $m^3$ percentage point of moisture removed was obtained from solar heated air drYing. The solar bin used 53.3 percent less energy per percentage point of moisture removed than the natural air bin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The urgency of feeding the world's growing population while combating soil pollution, salinization and desertification requires suitable biotechnology not only to improve crop productivity but also to improve soil health through interactions of soil nutrient and soil microorganism. Interest in the utilization of microbial fertilizer has increased. A principle of nature farming is to produce abundant and healthy crops without using chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and without interrupting the natural ecosystem. Beneficial microorganisms may provide supplemental nutrients in the soil, promote crop growth, and enhance plant resistance against pathogenic microorganisms. We mixed beneficial microorganisms such as Bacillus sp. Han-5 with anti-fungal activities, Trichoderma harziaum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum with organic material degrading activity, Actinomycetes bovis with antibiotic production and Pseudomonas sp. with nitrogen fixation. This study was carried out to investigate the mixtures on the soil microflora and soil chemical properties and the effect on the growth of lettuce and cucumber under greenhouse conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The microbial mixtures were used with each of organic fertilizer, swine manure and organic+swine manure and compared in regard to changes in soil chemical properties, soil microflora properties and crop growth. At 50 days after the treatment of microorganism mixtures, the pH improved from 5.8 to 6.3, and the EC, $NO_3$-Na and K decreased by 52.4%, 60.5% and 29.3%, respectively. The available $P_2O_5$ and $SiO_2$ increased by 25.9% and 21.2%, respectively. Otherwise, the population density of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. was accelerated and the growth of vegetables increased. Moreover, the population density of E. coli and Fusarium sp., decreased remarkably. The ratio of bacteria to fungi (B/F) and the ratio of Actinomycetes bovis to fungi (A/F) increased 2.3 (from 272.2 to 624.4) and 1.7 times (from 38.3 to 64), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and yield of cucumber and lettuce significantly increased by the treatment of microorganism mixtures. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that the treatment of microorganism mixtures improved the chemical properties and the microflora of soil and the crop growth. Therefore, it is concluded that the microorganism mixtures could be good alternative soil amendments to restore soil nutrients and soil microflora.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2020

Up to date, the majority research on the major landscape elements in organic farming has been mainly focused on the practice of seeking efficiency. The problem is that this type of study contributes to polluting the agricultural environment and damaging the ecological circulation system. As an alternative, there is a growing body of research on organic farming, but it is not widely applied that research on how to manage the landscape considering the scenic characteristics of farming villages practicing organic farming. Therefore, this study was carried out in the conservative aspects of rural landscapes in order to effectively manage the landscape of organic agriculture and, intended to be used to maintain and preserve natural and ecologically harmonious landscapes by deriving management methods suitable for landscape elements targeting the major landscape elements of the organic farming complex. To carry out, this study performed the experts survey which is composed of 13 major landscape elements, including rice paddies and fields, monoculture and diverse crops, dirt roads, windbreak trees, accent planting, dum-bung(small pond), natural small river, natural waterways, plastic film houses, one-storied houses, and pavilion. As a result, Farm land was formed in a square shape, concentrated in an independent space, planted companion plants around the crop, and covered with plants to manage the borders. As for the surrounding environment, it was analyzed that the aspart road system circulating through the village, the evergreen broad-leaved windbreak forest around the cultivated land, and the accent plant located at the entrance of the village were suitable. The hydrological environment consists of Round small pond made of stone in an open space, natural rivers around the village, and natural channels around the farmland, and The Major facilities are suitable for greenhouses that are shielded by plants in independent regions, and wooden duck houses located inside the cultivation area are suitable and The settlement facilities were analyzed to be suitable for single-story brick houses located in independent residential areas, pavilion located with greenery in the center of the village, and educational spaces shielded with wood from arable land. If supplementary evaluation criteria suitable for the management of organic farming landscape are additionally supplemented based on the results derived from this study, It is expected to enhance the landscape value of ecologically superior organic farming.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2000

Long term cultivation crops like tomato, capsicum, melon etc. demand much amount of continuous supplying of nutrition during the whole growing periods. It is not easy to cover satisfactorily the nutritional demands for them by splitted top dressings, slow release fertilizer applications and fertigation systems. To overcome these problems, the "CULTAN" (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) Beaker Deposit techniques have been developed and it was put into PVC beaker with the combined nitrogen fertilizer type mixed with the ratio of one-third of ammonium sulfate-N and two-thirds of urea-N, in which nitrogen was loaded on the demanding amount of a tomato plant during the growing period. Gypsum was mixed as a binder, and loamy soil and compost were used as a diffusion regulator. It was placed upside down into root zone of tomato at the transplanting. Tomato roots were spreaded into the Deposit beaker by ammonium ions which attract root growth. The tomato fruit yield and nitrogen uptake by plant were increased by application of $NH_4$-Beaker deposit fertilizer rather than those of common fertilizer treatment. In conclusion, it was able to improve economic and ecological benefits through CULTAN system compared with common fertilization systems. CULTAN system was estimated as a prospective alternative to enhance productivity and minimize nutrient lose. In addition, it shows further developing possibility of CULTAN system by the supplement of micro-nutrients and pesticides in the macro-nutrient beaker deposits.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.232-232
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of 6.29 Gm3 per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.408-408
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of $6.29Gm^3$ per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.739-748
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• 2019

Cheonggukjang and chaga mushrooms have numerous health benefits, and have been used in alternative medicine. Therefore, a powder mixture of 98: Cheonggukjang and 2: Chaga extracts was fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC3925 (FCC) and its anti-obesity effects in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice were determined. Five-week-old male ICR mice were fed a normal diet or HFD in the presence or absence of 3% and 5% FCC by weight (n = 10 per group). After 12 weeks, the mice were sacrificed, and the serum and tissue samples were collected for analysis. Body weight and epididymal fat pad weight were significantly lowered in the 3% and 5% FCC groups compared with those in the HFD control group (p < 0.01). FCC supplementation suppressed serum triglyceride and increased serum HDL-C levels (p < 0.01). Serum GOT, GPT, and leptin levels, hepatic COX-2 mRNA expression, and splenic COX-2 and IL-4 mRNA expression were significantly higher in the HFD groups than in the control group (p > 0.05); however, except for splenic IL-4 levels, the increases were significantly attenuated by FCC supplementation. Expression of ICAM-1, an aortic inflammatory marker, was significantly increased in the HFD group; this effect was suppressed in the 3% FCC group (p < 0.01) but not in the 5% FCC group. FCC suppressed the body weight and epididymal fat pad weight gain, as well as inflammatory responses in the liver and spleen of HFD-fed mice. Thus, FCC supplementation will be beneficial for the treatment of obesity-related effects.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2019

Microalgae do not require much land and make a higher efficient oil production. However, it costs still much higher than other biodiesel resources, such as crops. Sugars charge 80% of culture media when microalgae are massively cultured in the fermenter. This study aims to develop a cost-efficient process for sugar production from Chinese cabbage byproducts. Pre-treatment with 0.25% H₂SO₄ was most effective when chopped cabbage was incubated 50℃/130 rpm for 24 hours. To hydrolyze cabbage cellulose, we used cellulases secreted from Trichoderma. harzianum. T. harzianum was cultured at 28℃/pH 7/130 rpm for five days. Optimal enzymatic activity of cellulase was obtained by incubating at 0.24 FPU/ml/45℃/pH 5/130 rpm for three days. In comparison to other agricultural waste, such as rice straw, green tea leaves, and palm residue, Chinese cabbage produced the highest sugar yield. We found the optimal conditions to produce sugar from Chinese cabbage byproducts as a carbon source to culture biodiesel-producing microalgae. The efficient process developed in this study helps microalgae as a sustainable alternative energy source by cost-down.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.172-181
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• 2023

In order to raise the self-sufficiency rate of domestic forage and obtain informations necessary for production of high-quality winter forage, forage yield and feeding value were analyzed in the above-ground parts of a winter wheat 'Cheongwoo' harvested at five different growth stages, and the appropriate harvest time was determined. The yield increased until 30 days after heading, and then decreased afterwards. The proportion of spike in the above-ground part was less than 40% until 30 days after heading, but increased to more than 60% afterward. At 30 days after heading, the protein content and relative feed value (RFV) also reached peaks, while acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were low. The mineral nutrient contents are within the standard range required for feeding ruminant livestock or do not exceed the maximum allowable level. Therefore, the best time to harvest above-ground parts of a winter wheat 'Cheongwoo' for use as a forage for feeding ruminant livestock is around 30 days after heading, when considering forage yield and feed values. As a result it would match well in time with the transplantation of rice seedlings or the sowing of rice-alternative field crops in the double cropping system.