• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.310-317
• /
• 2022

BACKGROUND: The salt in soil interrupts crop growth. Therefore, water resources are used to remove any salt found in the soil. However, water resources have been reduced by global warming; thus, a new study is required into reducing the salt in soil. Recently, the bottom ash (BA) of a biomass power plant was found to be similar to biochar. Hence, it can be used to remove heavy metals and wastewater through the adsorption characteristics of BA. The objective of this study was to evaluate the improvement effects on crop growth in saline soil containing the BA from biomass power plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effect on crop growth in the saline soil supplemented with BA was studied with the crop-planted pots, which were packed by reclaimed greenhouse soils collected from Byolyang, Suncheon. The BA application level was 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg/10a (referred as BA25, BA50, BA100, BA200, and BA400, respectively). The BA increased the fresh weights of the leaf and root, while nitrogen uptake increased by approximately 24-102% and 54-77%, respectively for the lead and root. The phosphorous uptake increased by 38%, although only in the leaf of the lettuce. In the case of soil, BA increased water content, pH, EC, CEC, and NH₄⁺ and the SAR of the soil decreased by 5-15%. The bottom ash increased the contents of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and fixed the amount of Na⁺. CONCLUSION(S): It was confirmed the bottom ash of a biomass power plant, based on wood pellets, improved crop growth, and increased the nutrient uptake of crops in saline soil. In addition, bottom ash, which has a wide range of porosity and high values of pH and EC, improved properties of the saline soil. However, the BA has a large amount of B, As, and heavy metals. Finally, it may require a study on the safety and contamination of heavy metals contained in the bottom ash, which would be applied in soil for a long time.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.103-113
• /
• 2003

The chemical properties of oak tree wood vinegar and the effect of wood vinegar on the tomato seedling were investigated to apply wood vinegar efficiently to the organic - and natural farming system. On the basis of the results from chemical properties of the oak tree wood vinegar, mineral nutrient contents of wood vinegar was low. Therefore, wood vinegar could not be a suitable nutrient source for the plant growth at 500∼1000 times dilution level. which commonly used in the farming, if only wood vinegar is supplied for the nutrient source for the plant growth. The application of wood vinegar increased root growth up the 500 times dilution level while decreased shoot growth. Furthermore. the anion concentrations such as nitrate and phosphate of the plant were decreased by the application of wood vinegar while cation concentrations such as K. Ca. and Mg were increased. Phenolic compounds of wood vinegar such as chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid enhanced the root growth. Interestingly the application of ferulic acid increased both root and shoot growth at the level of 10$^{-4}$ M concentration. It indicated that the effect of wood vinegar on the production of healthy plant seedling may be due to the beneficial root growth by phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and/or ferulic acid of the wood vinegar. However. the effect of the wood vinegar on the plant growth could be influenced by synergism or antagonism of different phenolic compounds in wood vinegar used. In addition. drench in the soil of wood vinegar may be more beneficial compared to foliar application for the improvement of root activity and plant growth.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.740-752
• /
• 2023

Objective: Dietary phytase increases bioavailability of phytate-bound phosphorus (P) in pig nutrition affecting dietary calcium (Ca) to P ratio, intestinal uptake, and systemic utilization of both minerals, which may contribute to improper bone mineralization. We used phytase to assess long-term effects of two dietary available P (aP) levels using a one-phase feeding system on gene expression related to Ca and P homeostasis along the intestinal tract and in the kidney, short-chain fatty acids in stomach, cecum, and colon, serum, and bone parameters in growing gilts and barrows. Methods: Growing pigs (37.9±6.2 kg) had either free access to a diet without (Con; 75 gilts and 69 barrows) or with phytase (650 phytase units; n = 72/diet) for 56 days. Samples of blood, duodenal, jejunal, ileal, cecal, and colonic mucosa and digesta, kidney, and metacarpal bones were collected from 24 pigs (6 gilts and 6 barrows per diet). Results: Phytase decreased daily feed intake and average daily gain, whereas aP intake increased with phytase versus Con diet (p<0.05). Gilts had higher colonic expression of TRPV5, CDH1, CLDN4, ZO1, and OCLN and renal expression of TRPV5 and SLC34A3 compared to barrows (p<0.05). Phytase increased duodenal expression of TRPV5, TRPV6, CALB1, PMCA1b, CDH1, CLDN4, ZO1, and OCLN compared to Con diet (p<0.05). Furthermore, phytase increased expression of SCL34A2 in cecum and of FGF23 and CLDN4 in colon compared to Con diet (p<0.05). Alongside, phytase decreased gastric propionate, cecal valerate, and colonic caproate versus Con diet (p<0.05). Phytase reduced cortical wall thickness and index of metacarpal bones (p<0.05). Conclusion: Gene expression results suggested an intestinal adaptation to increased dietary aP amount by increasing duodenal trans- and paracellular Ca absorption to balance the systemically available Ca and P levels, whereas no adaption of relevant gene expression in kidney occurred. Greater average daily gain in barrows related to higher feed intake.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 1996

The objectives of this study is to find out mechanism of vasodilating effects of ANP in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta and to compare with those of normotensive rat aorta. In 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat, average arterial blood pressure and plasma renin activity were higher than in normotensive rat. In 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta, NE sensitivity was more increased and maximal contraction of aorta by NE was higher than those of normotensive rat aorta. ANP inhibited NE-induced contraction in both 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive and normotensive rat aorta, concentration-dependently. However, ANP was less effective for relaxing NE-induced contraction in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta than in normotensive rat aorta. ANP inhibited $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake induced by NE in both 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive and normotensive rat aorta. From these results. inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx may be one of the vasodilating mechanism of ANP in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta. Although the potency of ANP in relaxing NE-induced contractions was attenuated, the efficacy of ANP was not changed in 2K-1C renovascular hypertensive rat aorta compared with that of ANP in normotensive rat aorta. Abbreviations: ANP, Atrial natriuretic peptide; 2K-1C, 2-kidney 1 clip; NE, norepinephrine; SHR, Spontaneously hypertensive rat; DOC, Deoxycorticosterone; EDTA, Ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid; PSS, Physiological salt solution; TRIS, tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 1985

Six analytial methods for determing the available nitrogen in soils were tested to predict the optimum fertilizer rate for the flue-cured tobacco and to test the fertility level of soils for tobacco. All methods, nitrifiable $NO_3-N$ value for 2 and 4 weeks incubation, UV absorption value at 260nm and N-value in acid digestion of 0.01 M-$NaHCO_3$ extracts, N-value extracted in boiling with $CaCl_2$ solution, and autoclave-extractable $NH_4-N$ value in 0.01 M-$CaCl_2$, were closely correlated with total nitrogen uptake as well as yield. Therefore available nitrogen indices determined from above 6 analysis method could be used for the predicting of tobacco yield without fertilizer, criteria for fertility class, and recommendable range of optimum fertilization.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of soluble potassium silicate by soil drenching application on watermelon growth, yield, and nutrient uptake. The potassium silicate rates were control (No potassium silicate), 1.63mM, 3.25mM, 6.50mM. The potassium silicate were treated 6 times (twice before fruit forming and 4 times after fruit forming per 7 day. Soil chemical properties, such as soil pH, EC, available phosphorus and silicate, exchangeable K, nitrate-N levels were increased after potassium silicate treatment, while the concentrations of soil organic matter, exchangeable Ca and Mg were similar to control. The growth characteristics of watermelon, such as stem diameter, fresh and dry weight of watermelon at harvest were thicker and heavier for increased potassium silicate treatment than the control, while number of node, and plant length were same for all treatments. With increased potassium silicate treatment, nutrient concentrations, such as P and K in the watermelon leaf at harvest were increased, N concentration in the leaf was decreased, and Ca and Mg concentrations in the leaf were same. Chlorophyll content was increased with increased potassium silicate application. The occurrence of powdery mildew was lower for the potassium silicate treatments than the control. Fresh watermelon weight for the potassium silicate treatments was 0.1 to 0.5kg per watermelon heavier than the control, sugar content was 0.5 to $0.6^{\circ}Brix$ higher than control, and merchantable watermelon was 2 to 4% increased compared to the control. These results suggest that potassium silicate application by soil drenching method in the greenhouse can improve watermelon nutrient uptake, merchantable watermelon and suppress the occurrence of powdery mildew.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2007

Excess runoff contaminated with N and P can impact the quality of downstream water. It has been known that aquatic plants improve the water quality through their intake of organic or inorganic nutrients. This study was conducted to select aquatic plants having high purification ability for nutrient N and P, and mineral nutrients related to EC such as K, Ca, Na, Cl, and $SO_4$ in raw sewage water in greenhouse. We assessed nutrient phytoremediation potential of alien hydrophyte and hydro-crop as well as native landscape hydrophyte to select suitable aquatic plant applied to artificial wetland and buffering site of stream-side. The amount of irrigation water during whole growing period of aquatic plane ranged from 225 L $m^{-2}$ to 444 L $m^{-2}$. Oryza sativa, Typha orientalis, Zizania latifolia, Aster subulatus, Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen, Paspalum disdichum var. indutum which had high biomass consumed the large amount of irrigation water over 350 L $m^{-2}$. As a result of analysis of water purification effect N and P content of shoot biomass, and media soil after experiment, Oryza sativa, Zizania latifolia, Aster subulatus, Coix lachryma-jobi var. mayuen, Paspalum distichum var. indutum showed high purification ability about eutrophication elements such as T-N and T-P. It is presented that Pistia stratiotes, Eichhornia crassipes, and Paspalum distichum var. indutum had excellent purification ability about K, Ca, Na, and Cl. Moreover, Paspalum distichum var. indutum greatly removed $SO_4$ in row sewage water.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.88 no.2
• /
• pp.266-272
• /
• 1999

Aboveground biomass and nutrient contents of a 31-year-old pitch pine(Pinus rigida) and a 31-year-old Japanese larch(Larix leptolepis) plantations were measured in the Chungbu Forest Experiment Station, Kyunggi Province. Aboveground biomass was 170.2ton/ha in the pitch pine and 87.2ton/ha in the Japanese larch plantations. Aboveground biomass difference between both plantations was due to the difference of stand density. Aboveground biomass in both plantations was allocated as follows : stemwood>branch>stembark>needle. The concentrations of all nutrients(N, P, K, Ca, Mg) were generally higher in the Japanese larch needle than in the pitch pine because of high nutrient uptake characteristics of larch compared with pine tree species. The nutrient concentration in different tree tissues in both tree species decreased in the order of needle>branch>stembark>stemwood. Nutrient contents of aboveground biomass were : N, 335.9 ; P, 40.4 ; K, 121.4 ; Ca, 188.6 ; Mg, 93.8kg/ha in the pitch pine plantation, while nutrient contents in the Japanese larch plantation were : N, 226 ; P, 11.5 ; K, 72.9 ; Ca, 75.7 ; Mg, 37.1kg/ha. The nitrogen use efficiency calculated as the biomass produced by one unit of nitrogen was higher in the pitch pine than in the Japanese larch plantations. This result suggests that pine with high nitrogen use efficiency could be adapted in lower site productivity area compared with larch tree species.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.133-143
• /
• 2023

Background: Past studies suggested that ginseng extracts and ginseng-derived molecules exerted significant regulatory effects on skin. However, no reports have described the effects of ginseng-derived nanoparticles (GDNPs) on skin cell proliferation and wound healing. In this study, we investigated whether GDNPs regulate the proliferation of skin cells and promote wound healing in a mouse model. Methods: GDNPs were separated and purified via differential centrifugation and sucrose/D2O gradient ultracentrifugation. GDNP uptake, cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were measured by confocal microscopy, CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell migration and angiogenic effects were assessed by the wound scratch assay and tube formation assay, respectively. ELISA was used to detect extracellular matrix secretion. The relevant signaling pathway was confirmed by western blotting. The effects of GDNPs on skin wound healing were assessed by wound observation, HE staining, and western blotting. Results: GDNPs possessed the essential features of exosomes, and they were accumulated by skin cells. Treatment with GDNPs notably enhanced the proliferation of HaCaT, BJ and HUVECs. GDNPs also enhanced the migration in HaCaT cells and HUVECs and angiogenesis in HUVECs. GDNPs increased the secretion of MMP-1, fibronectin-1, elastin-1, and COL1A1 in all three cell lines. GDNPs regulated cell proliferation through the ERK and AKT/ mTOR pathways. Furthermore, GDNPs facilitated skin wound healing and decreased inflammation in a mouse skin wound model. Conclusion: GDNPs can promote skin wound healing through the ERK and AKT/mTOR pathways. GDNPs thus represent an alternative treatment for chronic skin wounds.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.1324-1331
• /
• 2010

Mifepristone (MIF) and Tamoxifen (TAM) have been used in the treatment of prostate cancer and breast cancer for more than a decade. MIF can induce apoptosis in both AR-positive and negative prostate cancer cells. Because of its pleiotropic ligand-receptor properties, TAM exerts cytotoxic activity in estrogen (ER)-positive and various ER.negative cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of these two substances are not yet clear. In the present work, we report that the cytotoxic effects of MIF and TAM are due to the modulation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in DU-145, androgen-insensitive cells. When the cells were treated with micromolar concentrations of either MIF or TAM, the growth and viability were significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptosis induced by MIF or TAM was further proved and analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). In the cells cultivated in a normal 1.5 mM $Ca^{2+}$ medium, both MIF and TAM also induced an increase of the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level in a dose-dependent fashion. Since a change in calcium level could not be found in cells of the $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, the increase of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ level might be due to an increase in extracellular calcium uptake. Our results show that the apoptotic effect was more prominent in TAM treatment compared to MIF treatment in DU-145 cells. The above findings might be due to the difference in the uppermost pathways of apoptosis induced by either MIF or TAM. When we checked the level of procaspase-8 activation, TAM showed minor level of activation, as opposed to MIF, which exerted strong activation. In both treatments, the levels of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased, and pro-apoptotic protein Bax level increased more than 2-fold. The activation of caspase-3, a key protease enzyme in the downstream pathway of apoptosis, was much higher in the cells treated with TAM, compared to the MIF treatment. The overall apoptotic activity shown in the present work was closely related to intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration levels. Therefore, the cytotoxic activity induced by MIF and TAM might have been due to intracellular calcium modulation.