• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.228-235
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of irrigation methods for reducing a drainage on the growth and yield in rockwool (Grodan co.) and cocopeat (chip : dust = 50 : 50 included fiber) culture. The nutrient solution was irrigated by $100J{\cdot}cm^{-2}$-100 mL, $50J{\cdot}cm^{-2}$-45 mL, $50J{\cdot}cm^{-2}$-40 mL, $50J{\cdot}cm^{-2}$-35 mL ($100{\sim}50J{\cdot}cm^{-2}$-100~35 mL, Nutrient solution 100~35 mL was irrigated per plant when the accumulated radiation was $100{\sim}50J{\cdot}cm^{-2}$). The drain rates per plant of 100-100, 50-45, 50-40, 50-35 were 26.3%, 8.8%, 6% 4.4% and 23.1%, 7.5%, 5% 3.4% in rockwool and cocopeat slabs. The water contents and EC of 100-100 and 50-45 were managed by the 55~70%, $3.0{\sim}5.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ which were good condition for paprika culture in rockwool and cocopeat slabs, while those of 50-40 and 50-35 were managed by beyond 50%, $4.5{\sim}9.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The plant height, number of branches and leaf size of 100-100 and 50-45 were similarly increased while those of 50-40 and 50-35 were decreased. The fruit size and weight of 50-40 and 50-35 were small and light, while those of 100-100 and 50-45 were similarly big and heavy. The marketable fruits of 100-100 and 50-45 treatments were similarly more by 9.7~9.8 in rockwool and 8.8~8.9 in cocopeat, while the unmarketable fruits, the small and blossom end rot fruits were increased in 50-40 and 50-35 treatments. The yield of 100-100 and 50-45 treatments were similarly high.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.418-423
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• 2017

In hydroponics, the nutrient solution is supplied considering the water and nutrient uptake characteristics of crops. However, as the ionic uptake characteristics are changed as a result of the weather conditions or the growth response of the crops, the root zone can not be maintained in optimal condition. In addition, the coir substrate has been used mainly for the tomato cultivation in place of the inorganic substrate, there are few studies on long-term cultivation using coir substrate. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of EC level of irrigation solution on tomato growth and inorganic ions of root zone in soilless culture using coir. Coir substrate mixed with 5 : 5 chip and dust was used. EC level of irrigation solution was 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. At the initial stage, $NO_3-N$, P, Ca and Mg in the drainage were lower than the irrigation level at 1.0 and $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. However, EC $2.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ or higher, all the ions except P were highly concentrated in the drainage. The average fruit weight was not significantly different between 1.0 and $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ until 3th cluster, but from the next cluster, the higher the EC level, the smaller the weight. The number of fruit and yield to 6th cluster was the highest at $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. From the next cluster, The yield was decreased with the higher EC level. At the early stage of growth, BER occurred only in EC $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, but increased in all treatments with increasing irradiation. The incidence rate of EC $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ was higher than that of the lower EC level treatment.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.376-387
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• 2019

Melons are mostly grown in soil, but it is susceptible to damage due to injury by continuous cropping such as Fusarium wilt and root rot. Hydroponic cultivation system can overcome the disadvantages of soil cultivation with precise nutrition management and a clean environment. When using the coir substrate, the most environmentally friendly organic substrate used for hydroponics, it is analyzed how the growth and fruit quality of the melon depends on the ratio of chips and dust and the amount of irrigation. The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data of melon hydroponics when cultivated in spring. The two types of the coir substrates used in the experiments were chip and dust ratios of 3 :7 and 5 : 5 respectively. The substrate with high dust ratios had excellent physical characteristics, such as container capacity and total porosity, and the drainage EC level showed a high value of $3.0-6.8dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. When the amount of irrigation is provided based on the drainage rate, the group provided the nutrient solution on the basis of 10% drainage supplied 91 L per plant, which was reduced by about 30% compared to the group with the highest water supply. In addition, the total drainage showed less than 10 L per plant with a minimum water supply and was reduced by 30 - 70% in substrate with a high dust rates. In substrate with high water supply and high dust ratio, leaf growth and fruit enlargement were good, and the soluble solids content varies greatly from cultivar to cultivar. If you provided the amount of irrigation based on 10% drainage rate, the fruit weight will be decreased, but the amount of irrigation can be reduced. Therefore, it is considered that managing the water & nutrient properly taking into account the characteristics of coir substrate and cultivar can produce melon of uniform quality using hydroponics.