• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.137-150
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• 2010

Traditionally, like many people in mountain region of the Himalaya, the Lwang communities depend on mix of subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and seasonal migrant labor for their livelihoods. These traditional systems are characterized by low productivity, diverse use of available natural resources (largely for home consumption), limited markets, and some aversion for innovation. The potential to generate wealth through commerce has largely been untapped by these mountain residents and thus is undervalued in local and national economies. Introduction of organic tea farming is a part of Lwang community's several initiatives to break the vicious poverty cycle Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) played facilitating roles in all their efforts since beginning. In five years, the tea plantation emerged as a new means for secured a livelihood. This study aims to analyze the current practices in tea farming both in terms of farm management and soil nutrient status(technical) and the prosperity of the tea farmers (social). The technical aspect covers the soil and tea leaf analysis of various nutrients contents in the soil and tea leaf. Originally, the technical aspect of the study was not planned but later during the consultation with the advisor it was taken into consideration which added value to the research study. The sample were collected from different locations and analyzed on the field itself. The other part of the study i.e. the social aspect was done through questionnaire survey and focus group discussion. the tea farming provided them not only a new opportunity but also earned an identity in the region. This initiative was undertaken as a piloting measure. Now that the tea is in production with processing unit established locally, more serious consideration has to be given for better yield and economic prosperity. This research finding will help the community to analyze their efforts and make correction measures in tea garden management and application of fertilizer. It is also expected to fill up the gaps of knowledge and information required to reduce economic stresses and enhance capacity of farmers to make the tea farming a sustainable and beneficial business. The findings are expected to Sustainability of organic tea farming has direct impacts on biodiversity conservation compared to the other traditional farming practices that are more resource intensive. The study will also contribute to identify key action points required for reducing poverty while conserving environment and enhancing livelihoods

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.289-296
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• 1985

To clarify the soil characteristics and genesis of the clayey terrace soils distributed in Yeongcheon (inland region) and Yeongil (coastal region), 9 typifying pedons including a recent local deposits were studied. The physico-chemical properties found were summarized as follows; 1. The contents of available water of the terrace soils were ranged from 12.0 to 20.3%. They were increased with increaseing clay content up to 35%, and then decreased at clay content of 35 to 55%, but were maintained about 12 to 13% when the clay content exceeds 55%. 2. The amount of water stable aggregates in the surface soils were ranged from 55.0 to 81.1%, and were low in cultivated upland where water erosion were accelerated while high in the paddy where the double cropping were practiced. The index of aggregate in cultivated upland were higher in the surface soils but the paddy soils were higher in subsoils. 3. The colloidal reactions checked by the differences between pH in $0.01N-Na_2SO_4$ and $H_2O$ indicate exchangeable acidity to exchangeable neutrality, which means a sort of Red-yellow soil forming process had been prevailed during genesis of the terrace soils. 4. Cation exchange capacity of the clayey terrace soils were averaged about 15.8-20.2me/100g of fine earth and 35.6-52.6me/100g of clay. The rates of base saturation were 32.7 to 57.6% and the rates decreased with increasing the elevations of terraces. 5. The activities of free iron oxides were 0.061 to 0.739 and the values decreased with increasing elevation while the crystallinity index of iron oxides positively correlated with elevations the values ranged from 0.067 to 0.537.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.983-991
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• 2012

These days, agricultural products cultivated in facilities occupy the highest percentage of agricultural output price. Specifically cucumbers have been one of the crops that farmers prefer to growing, because their prices were high. However, cucumber crop is sensitive to the soil and environments and it requires the exact crop management. In order to establish cultivation techniques for cucumbers, the current situation of cucumber cultivation was surveyed from ten cucumber farmlands; five farmlands of cucumber cultivation in forcing and five of semi-forcing practicing systems, respectably. The soil conditions were alluvial or valley in soil topology, moderately or poorly drainage in soil drainage classes, coarse loamy in soil texture family. Soil was managed with deep plowing combined with application of basal fertilizers such as compost, rice straw, oil cake, wood chip and chemical fertilizer. The whole soil was prepared in uniformly with rotary. Three major nutrients ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O$)of basal application were 815-464-529 kg $ha^{-1}$ in forcing and 197-135-151 kg $ha^{-1}$ in semi-forcing cultivation. Top dressing of fertilizer was supplied in fertigation system of macro and micro elements in 2~3 day interval with water irrigation. The average yields of cucumbers were $168t\;ha^{-1}$ with 381,000 thousand won $ha^{-1}$ in average gross profit (AGP) in forcing cultivation and $115t\;ha^{-1}$ with 177,000 thousand won $ha^{-1}$ in AGP in semi-forcing cultivation. Cucumber production during the winter season was considered to increase the gross profit because cucumber price tends to stay in high level during this time. The accumulation of soil chemicals like EC, available $P_2O_5$ and exchangeable cations could be controlled by rice straw application. The rice straw application increased soil temperature during the winter season, in exchange of soil air, and in extension of plant roots. In addition, the rice straw application somewhat affected decrease of salts accumulation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate liquid pig manure (LPM) application rates on the growth characteristics, yield, and feed value of whole crop barley in Yeongsangang and Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land. Electronic conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), and available phosphate (Av. $P_2O_5$) increased in chemical properties of Yeongsangang and Saemangeum soil as raising LPM application level. As increasing LPM application level, exchangeable $Na^+$ significantly increased in Yeongsangang, while exchangeable $K^+$ significantly increased in Saemangeum. Plant height was not significantly different from LPM 100% to LPM 200% in Yeongsangang and in Saemangeum. Dry matter yield of whole crop barley increased steadily, but crop yield of LPM 200% in Yeongsangang ($10.5ton\;ha^{-1}$) was as much as that of LPM 150% ($10.0ton\;ha^{-1}$). Yield of LPM 200% ($11.2ton\;ha^{-1}$) in Saemangeum was similar to that of LPM 150% ($10.5ton\;ha^{-1}$). Crude protein (CP) increased depending on LPM application level, but total digestible nutrients (TDN) increased regardless of LPM application level. LPM 200% was the highest in TDN yield (Yeongsangang: $7.4ton\;ha^{-1}$, Saemangeum: $6.9ton\;ha^{-1}$), but there was no statistical difference between LPM 150% (Yeongsangang: $6.9ton\;ha^{-1}$, Saemangeum: $6.6ton\;ha^{-1}$) and LPM 200%. From the results described above, optimum rate of LPM for cultivating whole crop barley is considered 100% in Yeongsangang reclaimed tidal land and 150% in Saemangeum reclaimed tidal land, showing that the effect of LPM application is better in Segmentation than that in Yeongsangang for yield of whole crop barley.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2012

This study was conducted to find out the optimum cropping system for the stable production of forage crops in the newly reclaimed land located at Gwanghwal region of Saemangum reclaimed land in which the soil is sandy loam (Munpo series). There were two treatments of nitrogen fertilization 20% increment based on the standard fertilization of 150, $200kg\;ha^{-1}$. Whole crop barley as the winter crop sowed on 27 October. After the whole crop barley was harvested at the end of May. Corn and sorghum${\times}$sudangrass as the summer crop sowed at the early of June successively on the same field. Emergence rate the whole crop barley was high while the summer crops were low. Soil salinity was increased during cultivation of summer crops. However, corn and sorghum${\times}$sudangrass were not damaged by salt. Increase of nitrogen fertilization made the growth of cultivation crops good, stem and leaf tended to have a lot of the mineral nutrients at heading stage and silking stage. After experiment, among soil chemical properties pH, content of exchangeable sodium were decreased and content of organic matter, available phosphate were increased. Dry matter yield were showed whole crop barley $13,170kg\;ha^{-1}$ and sorghum${\times}$sudangrass $19,440kg\;ha^{-1}$ by increment of nitrogen fertilization. Therefore, to improve the product and nutrient balance of reclaimed saline land comprehensive soil management should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

Background: Some phenolics detected in the soil may inhibit the seed germination and seedling growth of ginseng (Panax ginseng). This study investigated the effect of irrigation and ginseng root residue addition on the soil microbial community and root rot disease in 2-year-old ginseng. Methods and Results: Each $20{\ell}$ pot was filled with soil infected with ginseng root rot pathogens, and irrigated daily with $2{\ell}$ of water for one month. After the irrigation treatment, ginseng fine root powder was mixed with the irrigated soil at a rate of 20 g per pot. In descending order, ${NO_3}^-$, electric conductivity (EC), exchangeable Na (Ex. Na) and K (Ex. K) decreased due to irrigation. In descending order, ${NO_3}^-$, EC, Ex. K, and available $P_2O_5$ increased with the additon of ginseng powder to the soil. The abundance of Trichoderma crassum decreased with irrigation, but increased again with the incorporation of ginseng powder. The abundance of Haematonectria haematococca increased with irrigation, but decreased with the incorporation of ginseng powder. The abundance of Cylindrocarpon spp. and Fusarium spp., which cause ginseng root rot, increased with the incorporation of ginseng powder. The abundance of Arthrobacter oryzae and Streptomyces lavendulae increased with irrigation. The abundance of Streptomyces lavendulae decreased, and that of Arthrobacter spp. increased, with the incorporation of ginseng powder. Aerial growth of ginseng was promoted by irrigation, and ginseng root rot increased with the incorporation of ginseng powder. Conclusions: Ginseng root residues in the soil affected soil nutrients and microorganisms, and promoted ginseng root rot, but did not affect the aerial growth of ginseng.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.180-188
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• 2006

This study was carried out to offer the raw data on the method of cultivation and ecological characteristic by systematical analysing habitat environment of Tulipa edulis that was expected as medicinal and ornamental resource. The habitat environment was that the altitude was 245 m, the aspect of south, the size of approximately $49\;m^2$, and there was analyzed that Tulipa edulis grew wild in the dryly sunny spot. The vascular plants were summarized as 62 taxa; 28 families, 59 genera, 50 species, 11 varieties and 1 forms, and the resource plants were classified that there were 23 taxa of ornamental plants(37.1%), 43 taxa of edible plants(69.4%), 34 taxa of medicinal plants(54.8%) and 29 taxa of others(46.8%). In the results of soil factors analysis, there showed that acidity was pH 4.9, organic matter content of 4.9%, available $P_{2}O_{5}$ of 3.6 mg/kg, exchangeable $K^+$ of $0.5\;cmol^{+}/kg$, exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$ of $3.0\;cmol^{+}/kg$, exchangeable $Mg^{2+}$ of $0.8\;cmol^{+}/kg$, cation exchange capacity(C.E.C) of $12.3\;cmol^{+}/kg$ and electrical conductivity(EC) of 0.3 dS/m. In the results of correlation analysis between soil factors, exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$ and C.E.C were highly correlative. The growth characteristics of Tulipa edulis were surveyed that height was 7.6 cm, leaf width of 0.6 cm, leaf length of 12.7 cm, flower width of 2.8 cm, peduncle of 5.4 cm and chlorophyll of $34.7\;{\mu}g\;mg^{-1}$. In the results of correlation analysis between growth characteristics, height and peduncle were highly correlative. In the results of correlation analysis between soil factors and growth characteristics, exchangeable $K^{+}$ and leaf length were high relativity but they were confirmed negative relation. In the results of growth model analysis, R-square of leaf width and exchangeable $K^{+}$ was some 86.4% and that of chlorophyll and exchangeable $K^{+}$ was some 83.7%.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.334-338
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of improvement of soil physical properties such as deep plowing, subsoil breaking and diagnostic fertilization on the yield of rice and nitrogen-use efficiency in direct seeding on flooded paddy surface of rice. The effects of deep plowing, subsoil breaking and diagnostic application of N, P, K fertilizers, Latex coated urea(LCU), compost, silicate were investigated. The soil physical properties, such as bulk density, hardness and porosity were improved and the content of organic matter and available $SiO_2$ were also increased by deep plowing and subsoil breaking. The amount of $NH_4-N$ in soil was highly increased by diagnostic fertilization and deep plowing at 5th leaf stage. The nitrogen-use efficiency was the highest at the diagnostic application of LCU 70% applied as basal dressing with subsoil breaking. The yield of rice increased by 8% under the diagnostic application of LCU 70% applied as basal dressing with subsoil breaking compared with the conventional application.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: Pithy pear fruit are not distinguished externally from sound fruit and thus often cause unexpected economic losses. To find out the cause of pithiness, the pithiness incidence and characteristics of Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. Niitaka) fruit picked from a spot frequently produced pithy fruit in an orchard were compared with those of fruit picked from another spot produced sound fruit every year. And the soil chemical properties of the two spots and mineral contents in fruit, shoots, and leaves of Japanese pear trees cultivated in the two spots were also examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: The pithiness incidence was 0, 8.8, and 11.3% at 7 days before and 0 and 7 days after optimal harvest date, respectively, in the spot frequently produced pithy fruit. Flesh firmness was significantly lower in pithy fruit than in sound fruit, while soluble solids content was slightly higher in pithy fruit than in sound fruit. Unlike other mineral contents, Ca content was significantly lower in pithy fruit than in sound fruit. These results indicate that Ca deficiency in fruit is closely associated with decrease in flesh firmness and thus pithiness development. Ca content in soil of the spot frequently produced pithy fruit was also significantly lower than that in soil of the spot produced sound fruit. However, shoots or leaves did not exhibit significant difference in Ca and/or other mineral contents between the two spots, indicating that Ca deficiency in fruit is dependent on the translocation of Ca within a plant rather than soil Ca status. Although total-N, available $P_2O_5$, K, and Ca contents were significantly lower in soil of the spot frequently produced pithy fruit than in soil of the spot produced sound fruit, Mg and Na contents and pH were not different between the soil conditions. CONCLUSION(S): Fruit maturity and Ca level in fruit are closely related to the incidence of pithiness in 'Niitaka' Japanese pear.