• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.217-224
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• 2008

To obtain optimum configuration, depth and load of constructed wetlands(CWs) for treating of hydroponic waste solution(HWS) which was produced in greenhouses, the study was conducted with 4 kinds of combined systems such as Vertical flow(VF)-Horizontal flow(HF), VF-VF, HF-VF and HF-HF CWs. In four configurations of CWs, the treatment efficiency of pollutants from HWS under depth of HF and VF beds, HWS loading and HWSs were investigated. Removal rate of pollutants under different depth of VF and HF in 2-stage hybrid CWs was in the order of 50 cm < 70 cm regardless of CWs configuration. Removal rate of pollutants under HWS loading in 2-stage hybrid CWs was in the order of $150L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}{\fallingdotseq}300L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}\;>\;450L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$. The optimum depth and HWS loading were 70 cm and $300L\;m^{-2}\;day^{-1}$ in four configurations of CWs, respectively. Using this optimum condition, for various HWSs (cucumber, paprika and strawberry HWS), removal rate of pollutants in HF-HF CWs was higher than that in HF-VF CWs. Optimum configuration of 2-stage hybrid CWs for treating hydroponic waste solution in greenhouses was found out to be HF-HF CWs. Therefore, under the optimum conditions, removal rate of BOD, COD, SS, T-N and T-P in HF-HF CWs were 84, 81, 84, 51 and 93%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.10 no.E
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• pp.371-386
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• 1994

Ecological examinations of the radial growth Patterns of pine trees(Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc) growing on Mt. Namsan in central Seoul were made to test a Proposition that the pine trees decline due to the influence of air pollution and acid rain, which was proposed by some researchers in Korea, and the potential effects of current level of air pollutants to the growth of the Pine trees in central Seoul have been speculated. Tree-rings of 40 trees sampled at 3 sites of Mt. Namsan were prepared and examined using a Computer-aided Tree-Ring Measuring System at Kookmin University, Korea. Air Pollutant data collected by the Ministry of Environment( MOE ) and the Forestry Research Institute(FRI) were used to infer the general conditions of the environment. Correlation analysis was applied to the data set of tree growth and the other environmental factors. General information derived from the close examination of the tree-rings and the data on air pollution, drought and the other biological conditions suggested that the growth of the pine trees was severely affected by the occurrence of drought(climatic variation), the prevalence of the pine leaf gall midges(insects), and the suppression by the black locust trees(Robinia pseudo-acacia L.) (competition among trees). While the current condition of air pollution in Seoul cannot be categorized as good, the concentrations of air pollutants are not so high as to cause acute damages to the trees. In addition, while the data of rain acidity showed episodic low PHs of under 4.0, the average of them is far less acidic than those which were observed in either northeastern United States or central Europe, where the decline of trees were not solely attributed to any of the air pollutants. Considering the sequential facts that one of the most important environmental factors that affect the growth of trees is weather condition of the forest that the proposition of the decline of the pine trees was made without careful examination of the growth patterns and past growth history of them as well as the complex influences of many other factors including the weather conditions to the growth of trees, and that no objective explanation has been made on the causal relationships between the current condition of air pollution and the growth of the trees, such a proposition should be evaluated as invalid for the explanation of tree growth on Mt. Namsan in central Seoul, Korea. The author evaluates the factors of air pollution (including acid rain) as the predisposing factors, which may have the Potentials to chronically affect the tree growth at the forest ecosystem on Mt. Namsan for a long period of time. Ecosystem ecological studies should be further carried out to carefully explain both the functional and the structural aspects of the ecosystem processes, which include the biogeochemistry and the long-term changes of soil conditions as well as the growth of the other tree species on the mountain.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2018

Baekasan Acheon cave located in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do is a natural limestone cave only found in this province. In this study, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of speleothems collected from Baekasan Acheon cave were identified and the capability of carbonate mineral formation by aerobic microorganisms enriched from the cave and the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of carbonate minerals formed by the microorganisms were investigated. The samples of sediments (clay) and speleothems (shelfstone and cave coral) were collected at three sites in the cave. The samples of shelfstone and cave coral were identified mainly as carbonate mineral, Mg-rich calcite, and clay minerals were composed of quartz, muscovite, and vermiculite by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. To cultivate the carbonate forming microorganisms, parts of the sediment and speleothems were placed in D-1 medium containing urea, respectively, and the growth of microorganisms was observed under the aerobic condition at room temperature. The capability of carbonate mineralization of the cultured Baekasan Acheon cave microorganisms was examined through adding 1% (v/v) of the cultured microorganisms and calcium sources, Ca-acetate or Ca-lactate, into the D-1 medium. XRD analysis showed that the microorganisms cultured in cave deposits formed calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) under all conditions, and these microbial carbonate minerals included calcite and vaterite. The morphological characteristics and chemical composition of biologically formed minerals were observed by SEM-EDS showed various crystal forms such as rhomboid, spherical, perforated surface with Ca, C, and O of major chemical components. The existence of such microorganisms in the cave can contribute the formation of carbonate minerals, and it is likely to affect the geochemical cycles of carbon and calcium in the cave.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Wetlands constitute a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and have unique characteristics such as frequent inundation, inflow of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems, presence of plants adapted to grow in water, and soil that is occasionally oxygen deficient due to saturation. These characteristics and the presence of vegetation determine physical and chemical properties that affect decomposition rates of organic matter (OM). Decomposition of OM is associated with activities of various extracellular enzymes (EE) produced by bacteria and fungi. Extracellular enzymes convert macromolecules to simple compounds such as labile organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) that can be easily taken up by microbes and plants. Therefore, the enzymatic approach is helpful to understand the decomposition rates of OM and nutrient cycling in wetland soils. This paper reviews the physical and biogeochemical factors that regulate extracellular enzyme activities (EEa) in wetland soils, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and phenol oxidase that decompose organic matter and release C, N, P, and S nutrients for microbial and plant growths. Effects of pH, water table, and particle size of OM on EEa were not significantly different among sites, whereas the influence of temperature on EEa varied depending on microbial acclimation to extreme temperatures. Addition of C, N, or P affected EEa differently depending on the nutrient state, C:N ratio, limiting factors, and types of enzymes of wetland soils. Substrate quality influenced EEa more significantly than did other factors. Also, drainage of wetland and increased temperature due to global climate change can stimulate phenol oxidase activity, and anthropogenic N deposition can enhance the hydrolytic EEa; these effects increase OM decomposition rates and emissions of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ from wetland systems. The researches on the relationship between microbial structures and EE functions, and environmental factors controlling EEa can be helpful to manipulate wetland ecosystems for treating pollutants and to monitor wetland ecosystem services.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2008

To select of optimum rice species and germanium (Ge) application method for production of functional rice with Ge, the growth characteristics, Ge absorption and grain quality of rice plant were investigated under different rice species (Hopyungbyeo, Junambyeo, Ilmeebyeo and Dongjinbyeo) and Ge application method (soil application and foliar spray). The rice yield by soil application was higher in the order of Hopyungbyeo $\fallingdotseq$ Junambyeo > Ilmeebyeo >> Dongjinbyeo. On the other hand, the rice yield by foliar spray was higher in the order of Junambyeo >> Ilmeebyeo > Dongjinbyeo > Hopyungbyeo. The rice yield by soil application was higher than that by foliar spray regardless of rice species. For soil application, the Ge absorption in various parts of the rice was higher in the other of rice bran > brown rice > polished rice regardless of rice species. The Ge absorption of brown rice in Hopyungbyeo, Ilmeebyeo, Dongjinbyeo and Junambyeo by soil application was 14.5, 8.0, 11.6 and $10.4\;mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. In leaf, stem and root, the Ge absorption by foliar spray was higher than that by soil application, whereas, in rice bran, brown rice and polished rice, the Ge absorption by soil application was higher than that by foliar spray. The optimum rice species and Ge application method were demonstrated to be Hopyungbyeo and soil application, respectively, which provided suitable conditions for production of functional rice with Ge.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2007

To investigate effects of inorganic $(GeO_2)$ and organic (Ge-132) germanium (Ge) on seed germination and on early stage growth of plane and the uptake characteristics, various concentrations (0, 10, 25, 50, 100 mg $L^{-1}$) of Ge to popular vegetables such as leaf mustard, chinese cabbage and pak-choi, respectively, were treated. On seed germination, no significant effect was observed in both inorganic and organic Ge treatments except 100 mg $L^{-1}$ treatment of inorganic Ge. Exogenous inorganic Ge ($10{\sim}100$ mg $L^{-1}$ treatments significantly inhibited the early root elongation growth of all plants. However, slight enhancement of early shoot elongation was detected in low concentrations (10 and 25 mg $L^{-1}$) of Ge in the leaf mustard and chinese cabbage plants. Organic Ge treatments significantly stimulated the 개ot and shoot growth at the 10, 25 and 50 mg $L^{-1}$ treatments. Ge was accumulated linearly in the vegetables as both inorganic and organic Ge concentrations were increased. Interestingly, total contents of Ge in plants with Ge-132 treatments were $2\sim4.5$ times more than those with inorganic Ge treatments in all concentrations. At 25 mg $L^{-1}$ treatment of Ge, contents of Ge in vegetables are following: in leaf mustard, inorganic Ge: 0.37 mg $g^{-1}dw$ and organic Ge: 1.47 mg $g^{-1}dw;$ in the chinese cabbage, inorganic Ge: 0.4 mg $g^{-1}dw$ and organic Ge: 0.86 mg $g^{-1}dw;$ in the pak-choi, inorganic Ge: 0.33 mg $g^{-1}dw$ and organic Ge: 0.70 mg $g^{-1}dw$, respectively. These results showed organic Ge is much better on early stage seedling growth and on germanium accumulation of vegetables than inorganic Ge.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2008

Behavior and decomposition velocity of pollutants on various forms from domestic sewage in sewage treatment plant were investigated in order to obtain the basic data for improving the removal efficiency of pollutants and to reduce the area in constructed wetland by natural purification method. The removal amounts of BODs and CODs in aerobic bed were significantly higher than those of the other beds. In aerobic bed, the removal amounts of IBOD and ICOD were more than those for SBOD and SCOD, respectively, whereas the removal amounts of BODs and CODs in anoxic and anaerobic beds were little different. The removal amounts of SSs in aerobic bed were also higher than those for the other beds, and the removal amounts of VSS in all beds were more than those for FSS. The removal amounts of DTN and DTP in all beds were more than those for STN and STP, respectively. In addition, the decomposition velocities of TBOD, TCOD and TSS in aerobic bed were 30.79, 17.15 and 29.96 $day^{-1}$. Moreover, the decomposition velocities of BODs, CODs and SSs in aerobic bed were very rapid than those in the other beds. On the other hand, the decomposition velocities of BODs, CODs and SSs in anoxic and anaerobic beds were a little different regardless of the forms of pollutant. The decomposition velocities constants of T-N in aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic beds were 4.78, 0.12 and 0.10 $day^{-1}$, respectively. Moreover, the decomposition velocities constants of T-P in aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic beds were 13.09, 0.12 and 0.13 $day^{-1}$ respectively. The decomposition velocity of T-Ns and T-Ps in aerobic bed were slightly rapid than those in the other beds, whereas the decomposition velocities of T-Ns and T-Ps in anoxic and anaerobic beds were slightly different regardless of the forms of pollutant.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2008

To effectively treat the domestic sewage that was produced on a small-scale in farming and fishing village in order to encourage an ecologically friendly environment, a small-scale sewage treatment apparatus using natural purification methods that consisted of an aerobic and an anaerobic plots were constructed. The efficiency of sewage treatment according to the sewage loading was investigated to obtain the optimum sewage loading in small-scale sewage treatment apparatus. Removal rate of pollutants according to the sewage loading were in the order of $150\;Lm^{-2}day^{-1}{\fallingdotseq}300\;Lm^{-2}day^{-1}>600\;Lm^{-2}day^{-1}$. Therefore, the optimum sewage loading was 300 L m-2 day-1. Under the optimum sewage loading, removal rate of BOD, $COD_{Mn}$, turbidity, T-N and T-P were 99, 94, 99, 49 and 89%, respectively. However, to satisfy the water quality standard in effluent in small-sclae sewage treatment apparatus for domestic sewage treatment, the low removal efficiency of T-N and T-P must be improved. So to improve the removal rate of T-N and T-P, the efficiency of sewage treatment according to the improved sewage treatment process such as, re-treatment at aerobic plot, anaerobic condition of aerobic plot, changing the filter media sizes and the depths in anaerobic plot, and also addition of oyster shells to filter media at anaerobic plot were investigated. In case of 150 cm depth in anaerobic plot with filter medium A (effectivity particle size 1.50 mm) and addition of oyster shells to filter media at anaerobic plot, removal rate of T-N and T-P in both plots were increased by 10 and 3%, and 14 and 7% in comparison with 100 cm depth in anaerobic plot with filter medium B(effectivity particle size 0.95 mm), respectively. The optimum improved sewage treatment process in small-scale sewage treatment apparatus were 150 cm depth in anaerobic plot with filter medium A and addition of oyster shells to filter media at anaerobic plot.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2010

Changes in wetland soil properties of two constructed wetlands after their constructions were compared to those of a natural wetland to determine if they could be used for the evaluation of the success of constructed wetlands and the assessment of their functions. One natural wetland as a reference wetland and two constructed wetlands(treatment wetland and experimental wetland) with different contaminant inflow characteristics were selected for this study. Major physicochemical properties of wetland soil such as soil texture, water content, pH, CEC(cation exchange capacity), organic matter content, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus were monitored to investigate the effects of inundation and accumulation of organic matters and nutrients on the wetland soil development. There was a clear difference in soil texture between the natural wetland and the constructed ones, with the high sand content in the constructed wetlands as compared to the high clay content in the natural one. Gradual increases of silt and clay contents over time were observed in the constructed wetlands. The soil of the natural wetland was higher in water content and organic matter but lower in pH than those of the constructed wetlands. The pH of the constructed wetlands reached near neutral ranges after initial increase. CEC and nutrient concentrations of the constructed wetlands seemed to be affected mainly by outside inflows of organic matter and contaminants. Concentrations of organic matter and nutrients decreased over time in the experimental wetland where surface and deep soils with different characteristics were mixed during its construction, suggesting that changes in soil properties during wetland constructions may affect the development of wetland soils or wetland biogeochemistry. This study showed that changes in physicochemical properties of soils in constructed wetlands could be used to assess the success of constructed wetlands and their functions, and also the importance of reference wetlands for the appropriate assessment.