• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.231-238
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• 2006

The physical properties of seven perlites different in particle size distribution were investigated to develop perlite bag culture in Korea. Particle sizes of 1.0-2.8mm and larger than 2.8 mm were rather evenly distributed in S-1 (1.2-5 mm), S-2 (0.15-5 mm) and S-5 (parat No.1). Larger particles were less in S-3 (1-3 mm), S-4 (Parat No.2), S-6 (OTAVI) and S-7 (Agroperl B-3). S-4, S-6 and S-7 contained lots of particles less than 1 mm in size. Total porosity was similar among substrates with the value of $59{\sim}62%$. Container capacity was between 35-40% regardless of substrates except in S-2 with 27.7%. Water content, which was about 60% at 0 kPa, was decreased sharply at 4.90 kPa regardless of substrates, which meant the easily available water was plenty in any kind of perlite tested. Substrates, S-1, S-2 and S-3 with different particle size distribution, were investigated to evaluate for perlite bag culture. Six tomatoes (Licopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Rokkusanmaru) were planted in a perlite bag of 40 liters with the dimension of 120cm in length and 34cm in width. The amount of nutrient solution supplied and its drainage dependent on daily integrated radiation didn't show any regular trend during the growth. Roots in the bag were distributed evenly in S-1 and S-2 than in S-3. Plant grown in S-1 showed the highest total and marketable yield of 8,628 and 7,759 kg/10a, respectively. The number of small size fruits and malformed fruits were more in S-3. Consequently, S-1 with the particle size distribution of 1.2-5 mm is suggested as desirable substrate for perlite bag culture.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2017

This research was conducted to investigate the influence of post-planting fertilizer concentrations on the growth of seedlings and changes of nutrient concentrations of media in tomato seedling production through sub-irrigation. Two root media such as peat moss (grade of 0 to 6 mm, PM06) plus perlite (grade of 1 to 2 mm (PE2)(7:3, v/v) and peat moss (grade of 5 to 15 mm, PM515) plus PE2 (7:3, v/v) were formulated and filled into 72-cell plug trays. After seeds of 'Dotaerang Dia' tomato were sown and germinated at $28^{\circ}C$, the trays were moved to greenhouse and seedlings were raised 35 days. When the cotyledons were emerged, post-planting fertilizers of 13-2-13, 15-0-15 and 20-9-20 ($N-P_2O_5-K_2O$) were applied in a sequence. The fertilizer concentrations based on N in each plug stage were differed with $25mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in three treatments. The fertilizer solutions were supplied when the weight of plug trays decreased to 40 to 50% compared to container capacity. The root media were collected in 1, 2, 4, and 5 weeks after sowing and were divided into top, middle, and bottom parts, then were analysed for pH, EC and macro-nutrient concentrations. The seedling growth was investigated 5 weeks after sowing. The pH and EC in PM06+PE2 was higher than those of PM515+PE2. The bottom and mid-part had higher pH and lower EC compared to upper part in each medium. The differences of EC between upper and bottom parts were around 2 times in each medium. The $NH_4-N$ and K concentrations in program 3 of PM06+PE2 showed the highest concentrations among all treatments. The $NO_3-N$ concentrations in PM06+PE2 increased gradually and this rising tendency become severe as post-planting fertilizer concentrations were elevated. The seedling growth in terms of fresh and dry weights was the highest in the treatment of program 2 in PM06+PE2 among all treatments tested. Above results indicate that the gradual increases of fertilizer concentrations from 25 to $125mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in plug stages 2, 3, and 4 plug stages are desirable for

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2011

In developing soil wetting agent using polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether (PNE) and polyoxyethylene castor oil (1:1; v/v), the effect of application rates on changes in concentration of PNE, initial wetting of peatmoss + perlite (7:3) medium, and growth of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. 'Knockwang') plug seedlings were investigated. The elevation of application rates of wetting agent increased the amount of water retained by the root media. The treatment of 2.5 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ showed similar water retention to + control ($AquaGro^L$ 3.0 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$). Most of the liquid wetting agent (LWA) incorporated during the medium formulation leached out in the first and second irrigation, then it decreased gradually until 10 times in irrigation. In investigation of the influence of LWA on position of water infiltrating into root media, the vertical water movements in treatments of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were much faster than those in 0.0 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ (-control), but relative speed of water movement decreased by the elevation in application rate of LWA to 2.0 or 2.5 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The evaporative water loss of root media that to contained various rate of LWA and irrigated to reach container capacity was the fastest in -control among the treatments and it delayed as the application rate of LWA was elevated. The plant height of 22.2 cm in 0.5 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and stem diameter of 3.26 mm in 1.0 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were the highest among the treatments tested. The treatment of 1.0 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ also had the heaviest fresh and dry weights such among treatments tested as 3.08 g and 0.861 g per plant, respectively. The elevated application rate over than 1.5 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$ resulted in decreased seedling growth. The results mentioned above indicate that optimum application rate of LWA is 1.0 $mL{\cdot}L^{-1}$.

• 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.