• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2022

This study was conducted to examine an alternative cultivating method that uses coir substrates in a hydroponically cultured system. Three treatment conditions were applied with one-layer substrate (10 cm height) with a coir chip and dust ratio of 5:5 (Treatment A), two-layer coir substrate (20 cm height) with a coir chip and dust ratio of 5:5 (Treatment B), one-layer coir substrate (15 cm height) with a coir chip and dust ratio of 7:3 (Treatment C). The control condition was a plastic container filled with a coir chip and dust ratio of 5:5. Various criteria were measured and compared between the treatments and the control. The yield of strawberry was smaller in the control than in the treatments. No significant difference in growth characteristic was found in the height treatments of the coir substrates. The net photosynthetic rate of the treatments was 14.68-15.76 µmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1. This does not show a statistically significant difference. The root activity was better in treatment B and C than in treatment A and the control. The length and width of leaves were measured as 4.04-4.13 cm and 3.26-3.34 cm. These results are not statistically significant. The leaf length and width ratio was 1.27 in the control and 1.24 in the treatments. The findings show that no statistically significant benefit was found when utilizing coir substrates with different height treatments in the hydroponic culture system. However, the harvested fruit per plant weights 72.38 g in treatment A and 48.69 g in treatment C. The number of harvested fruit was least in treatment C in which a coir chip and dust ratio of 7:3 was applied. Therefore, further research is needed to examine how the chip and dust ratio in coir substrate affects growth characteristics.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.248-255
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• 2013

This study examined an automated irrigation technique by a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor for scheduling irrigation for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Starbuck F1') cultivation aimed at avoiding effluent from an open hydroponic system with coir substrate containing different ratios of chip-to-dust (v/v) content. Specifically, the objectives were to undertake preliminary measurements of irrigation volumes, leachate volume, volumetric water content and electrical conductivity (EC) in the substrate, plant growth, fruit yield, and water use efficiency resulting from variation in chip content as an initial experiment. Commercial coir substrates containing different percentages of chips and dust (0 and 100%, 30 and 70%, 50 and 50%, or 70 and 30%), two-story coir substrates with different percentages of chips in the lower layer and dust in the upper layer (15 and 85%, 25 and 75%, or 35 and 65%), or rockwool slabs were used. The results showed that a negligible or no leachate was found for all treatments when plants were grown under a technique for scheduling non-drainage irrigation using a frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor. Daily irrigation volume was affected by chip content in both commercial and two-story slabs. The highest plant growth, marketable fruit weight, and water-use efficiency were observed in the plants grown in the commercial coir slab containing 0% chips and 100% dust, indicating that the FDR sensor-auto-mated irrigation may be more useful for tomato cultivation in coir substrate containing 0% chips and 100% dust using water efficiently and minimizing or avoiding leachate and thus increasing yield and reducing pollution. Detailed experiment is necessary to closely focus on determining appropriate irrigation volume at each of irrigation as well as duration of each individual irrigation cycle depending on different physical properties of substrates using an automated irrigation system operated by the FDR sensor.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.292-299
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• 2022

This study was conducted to analyze physical and chemical properties of horticultural substrates and response of hydroponically grown two cultivars of 'Namcheon' and 'Somirang' perilla by four different substrates: coir (chip:dust = 5:5), perlite, granular rockwool, and commercial mixed substrate (cocopeat:peatmoss:vermiculite:perlite: zeolite = 50:25:10:10:5). There were no significant differences in EC and pH according to substrates. Container capacity was the greatest in granular rockwool, and it showed appropriate levels in mixed substrate and coir. Air space was higher in coir and perlite than the other treatments. Bulky density reached a proper standard in all substrates excepting coir. The leaf length and width of 'Namcheon' indicated the most in mixed substrate, though the value of 'Somirang'was greatest in coir substrate. The leaf weight of both cultivars was highest in mixed substrate, and relatively low in coir and perlite. The total yield of leaves was separated by two groups: higher group, which are mixed substrate and granular rockwool, and lower group, which are coir and perlite. There was a large gap by 28% between these two groups. Therefore, this study suggests that substrates with high water holding capacity such as mixed substrate or granular rockwool are most suitable for the hydroponic cultivation of perilla, which require sufficient moisture supply to the root zone.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.729-735
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• 2019

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different compositions of environmental substrates on hydroponic tomato cultivation. Three different substrates were used in coir chip:dust (v/v=50:50; CP1), coir chip:dust (v/v=80:20; CP2), and rock wool cube with CP2 (CPR). The amount of irrigation during the cultivation period was 190 mL/(plant time) in all substrates. The pH and EC were 5.8-6.2 and 2.6-2.9 dS/m, respectively. The drainage rate in CP1 was 31%, in CP2 was 36%, and in CPR was 29%. The growth of tomato plants in terms of height was higher in CP1 and CPR. The leaf area was greater in CP2. The fresh and dry weights were greater in CP2 and CPR treatments. The net photosynthesis in CP2 ($19.31{\mu}mol\;CO_2/m^2s$) and root activity in CP2 were higher among all three treatments. The soluble solid content of fruit was not significantly different among treatments. The yield per plant in CP2 and CPR treatments was 17% greater than the yield per plant in CP1. Therefore, the most suitable substrate for hydroponic tomato cultivation is the substrate mixed with coir chip:dust (v:v=80:20; CP2), i.e., CPR.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.605-612
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• 2021

Supply electrical conductivity (EC) concentration of the nutrition solution is an important factor in the absorption of nutrients by plants and the management of the root zone, as it can control the vegetative/reproductive growth of a plant. Paprika usually undergoes its reproductive and vegetative growth simultaneously. Therefore, ensuring proper growth of the plant leads to increased yield of paprika. In this study, growth characteristics of paprika were examined according to the EC concentration of a coir and a rockwool substrate. The supply EC was 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mS·cm^-1 applied at the initial stages of the growth using the rockwool (commonly used by paprika farmers) and the coir substrate with a chip and dust ratio of 50:50 and 70:30. For up to 16 weeks of paprika growth, EC concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 mS·cm^-1 were found to have a greater effect on the growth than EC at 4.0 mS·cm^-1. The normality (marketable) rate of fruit, the soluble solid content, and paprika growth showed that the coir was generally better than the rockwool regardless of the supply EC concentration. The values of the yield per plant at an EC concentration of 4.0 mS·cm^-1 was mostly similar at 1.6 kg (coir 50:50), 1.5 kg (coir 70:30) and 1.5 kg (rockwool), but the yield of the rockwool was 88%, which was lower than 98% and 94% yield of the coir substrate. Therefore, this concludes that coir substrate is more effective than rockwool at improving paprika productivity. The results also suggest that the use of coir substrate for paprika has many benefits in terms of reducing production costs and preventing environmental destruction during post-processing.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2011

The influence of physicochemical properties of root substrates on the growth of mother plants and occurrence of daughter plants in 'Seolhyang' strawberry propagation were investigated through plastic bag cultivation. Six different formulations of root substrates were coir dust + perlite (5:5, A), coir dust + perlite (6:4, B), coir dust + perlite (7:3, C), coir dust + coconut chip (7:3, D), coir dust + coconut chip (6:4, E), and peatmoss + vermiculite (5:5, v/v; F). The total porosities (TP) and container capacities (CC) of all root substrates were higher than 85% and 55%, respectively, indicating that all substrates were in the acceptable range. But the TP and CC of F substrate were 91.5% and 60%, respectively, which were the highest among the root substrates tested. In the soil chemical properties analyzed before planting and after harvesting of 'Seolhyang' strawberry mother plants, the root substrates of A, B, C, and F had higher electrical conductivity and $NO_3$-N concentrations than those of D and F. The root substrates of A, B, C, and F had heavier runner fresh and dry weights, longer runner lengths, and more daughter plant occurrence than those of D and F. The treatment F had higher tissue N content than any other treatments at 120 days after the transplanting of 'Seolhyang' strawberry and statistical differences were not observed among remained 5 substrates. The treatment of F also had the higher tissue contents of other nutrients except N analyzed at 120 days after transplanting. These results indicated that soil chemical properties rather than physical properties severely influenced the growth of runners and occurrence of daughter plants.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.191-197
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• 2010

The objective of this research was to determine the influence of the physical and chemical properties of root substrates used during the production of 'Maehyang' strawberry propaguleson the growth of the mother plants and the rate of daughter plant formation. Plants were cultured in plastic bags containing six different formulations of root substrates composed of: a) 50% coir dust and 50% perlite (5:5 by volume, A), b) 60% coir dust and 40% perlite (6:4, B), c) 70% coir dust and 30% perlite (7:3, C), d) 70% coir dust and 30% coconut chip (7:3 D), e) 60% coir dust and 40% coconut chip (60:40, E), or f) 50% sphagnum peat and 50% vermiculite (50:50, F). All media formulations contained a moderate level of base fertilizers. Physical and chemical properties of each formulation were determined before plant establishment and after 120 days of stock plant culture and runner production. Total porosity (TP) and container capacity (CC) of all substrate formulations were higher than 85% and 55%, respectively, allowing a suitable range of air and water holding characteristics. Formulation F provided the highest TP and CC values among the all substrate modifications evaluated. Substrate formulations A, B, C and F had higher electrical conductivity (EC) and $NO_3{^-}$-N concentrations than formulations D and E, when determined before and after plant culture. Formulations A, B, C, and F, having higher EC readings, also performed better as root substrates thanthe formulations D and E in increasing fresh and dry weights of the runners as well as the production of daughter plants per plant. The 'Maehyang' strawberry plants grown in the formulation F had the highest tissue N content, followed by those grown in substrate B, A, C, or D for 120 days after transplanting. Formulation F also facilitated accumulation of higher tissue phosphorus (P) and copper (Cu) contents compared to other treatments. Results of this experiment suggest that the chemical properties, rather than physical properties, of root substrates had a major influence on the growth of mother plants and the occurrence of healthy daughter plants during the bag-culture phase of propagation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2014

This experiment has investigated suitable methods to improve precision water content monitoring of coconut coir substrates to control irrigation by frequency domain reflectometry(FDR) sensors. Specifically, water content changes and variations were observed at different sensing distances and positions from the irrigation dripper location, and different spaces between the FDR sensors with or without noise filters. Commercial coconut coir substrates containing different ratios of dust and chips(10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7) were used. On the upper side and the side of the substrates, a FDR sensor was used at 5, 10, 20, 30cm distances respectively from the irrigation dripper point, and water content was measured by time after the irrigation. In the glass beads, sensors were installed with or without noise filtering. Closer sensing distance had a higher water content increasing rate, regardless of different coir substrate ratios. There were no differencies of water content increasing rates in 10:0 and 3:7 substrates between the upper side and the side. Whereas, 7:3 and 5:5 substrates showed higher increasing rates on the upper side measurements. Substrates with higher ratios of chip(3:7) had lower increasing rates than others. And, with noise filters, the exatitude of measurement was improved because the variation and deviation were reduced. Therefore, in coconut coir with FDR sensors, an efficient water content measurment to control irrigations can be achieved by installing sensors closer to an irrigation point and upper side of substrates with noise filters.

• 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.