• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.80 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 1991

Seasonal patterns of decomposition and nutrient release from the needle litter were examined using litter-bags in coastal Pinus thunbergii forests in nothern Kyushu, Japan. Dry matter losses from decomposing needle litter were smillar in all standsover a experimental period. Mass loss in dry weight is lost rapidly during the first year, and thereafter the rate of loss slows. Litter lost approximately 40% of initial mass in 1 yr. The predicted decay constant, k values ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 Decomposition half-times($t_{0.50}$) ranged from 1.1 to 1.4 year. In the decomposing needle litter, the concentrations of N and P generally increased with time while the concentration of K decreased. A decrease in absolute amount was noted for K during decomposition while in an increase was found for N. The order of mobility of elements was K>P>N. Mineralization phase of N had not appeared during the experiment.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.121-139
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• 2019

Decomposition of litter is a function of various interrelated variables, both biotic and abiotic factors. Litter decomposition acts like a natural fertilizer play a prime role in maintaining the productivity and nutrient cycling in agroforestry systems. There are few studies of decomposition carried out in agroforestry systems with coffee; so it is necessary to perform more research work to fill the research gap, which will allow a better understanding of the management of the coffee agroforestry systems. This paper is based on the theoretical and conceptual aspects of leaf litter decomposition in agroforestry systems, emphasizing the combination with coffee cultivation and critically examined the role of the different factors involved in the decomposition. This study made a comparison of different investigations with regards to weight loss, decomposition rates (k), initial chemical composition, and release of the main nutrients. This study suggested that it is necessary to implement studies of decomposition and mineralization, and the microflora and fauna associated with these processes, so that serves as an important tool to develop a model for enabling a description of the short, medium, and long-term dynamics of soil nutrients in coffee agroforestry systems.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.527-533
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• 2011

Decomposition of compost applied to soils is affected basically by its biological stability; but, many other chemical properties of the compost may also influence compost organic-C mineralization. This study was conducted to investigate the principal substrate quality factors of composts that determine C mineralization of compost with similar stability degree (SD). Three composts samples with similar SD but different chemical properties such as pH, C/N, $K_2SO_4$-extractable C, and molar ratio of $NH_4^+$ to $NO_3^-$ were mixed with an acid loamy soil and $CO_2$ emission was monitored during the laboratory incubation for 100 days. Temporal pattern of cumulative compost organic-C mineralization expressed as % of total organic C ($C_{%\;TOC}$) followed double exponential first order kinetics model and the $C_{%\;TOC}$ ranged from 4.8 to 11.8% at the end of incubation. The pattern of C%TOC among the composts was not coincident with the SD pattern (40.1 to 58.6%) of the composts; e.g. compost with the lowest SD resulted in the least $C_{%\;TOC}$ and vice versa. This result indicates that SD of compost can not serve as a concrete predictor of compost mineralization as SD is subject not only to maturity of compost but also to characteristics of co-composting materials such as rice hull (low SD) and sawdust (high SD). Meanwhile, such pattern of $C_{%\;TOC}$ collaborated with pH, C/N, $K_2SO_4$-extractable C, and molar ratio of $NH_4^+$ to $NO_3^-$ of the composts that are regarded as chemical indices of the progress of composting. Therefore, for better prediction of compost mineralization in soils, it is necessary to consider both SD and other chemical indices (pH, C/N, and molar ratio of $NH_4^+$ to $NO_3^-$).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

Background: Stoichiometry plays an important role in understanding nutrient composition and cycling processes in aquatic ecosystems. Previous studies have considered C:N:P ratios constant for both DOM (dissolved organic matter) and POM (particulate organic matter). In this study, water samples were collected in the six major rivers in Korea and were incubated for 20 days. C:N:P ratios were determined during the time course of the incubations. This allowed us to examine the changes in N and P contents of organic matter during decomposition. Results: POM and DOM showed significant differences in N and P content and the elemental ratios changed during the course of decomposition; DOM showed higher C:N and C:P ratios than POM, and the C:N and C:P ratios increased during decomposition, indicating the preferential mineralization of P over N and N over C. Conclusions: The N and P contents of organic matter in aquatic ecosystem are far from constant and vary significantly during decomposition. More detailed information on the changes in C:N:P ratios will provide improved understanding of decomposition processes and improved modeling of aquatic ecosystems.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2015

This work investigated the plasma treatment of aqueous bisphenol A (BPA) solution and mineralization pathways. For the effective contact between plasmatic gas and aqueous BPA solution, the plasma was created inside a porous ceramic tube, which was uniformly dispersed into the aqueous solution through micro-pores of the ceramic tube. Effects of the gas flow rate, applied voltage and treatment time on the decomposition of BPA were examined, and analyses using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, ion chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were also performed to elucidate mineralization mechanisms. The appropriate gas flow rate was around $1.0L\;min^{-1}$; when the gas flow rate was too high or too low, the BPA decomposition performance at a given electric power decreased. The increase in the voltage improves the BPA decomposition due to the increased electric power, but the energy required to remove BPA was similar, regardless of the voltage. Under the condition of $1.0L\;min^{-1}$ and 20.8 kV, BPA at an initial concentration of $10L\;min^{-1}$ (volume : 1 L) was successfully treated within 30 min. The intermediates produced by the attack of ozone and hydroxyl radicals on BPA were further oxidized to stable compounds such as acetate, formate and oxalate.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.381-391
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• 2009

Crop production can be secured by the cycle of green manure crops as an alternative of the chemical fertilizer. Recently, rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) has been cultivated in the south part of Korea for the production of biodiesel. In this research, we focused on recycling rapeseed residue, which is produced after harvesting the rapeseed for biodiesel, as a potential source of nitrogen to the succeeding crop. Pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of winter rapeseed as green manure on mineralization and uptake of nitrogen to the succeeding corn (Zea mays L.). Result showed that total nitrogen and C/N ratio of rapeseed at the harvesting stage was 0.54% and 63, respectively. The incorporation of rapeseed without decomposition period slightly inhibited nitrogen uptake to the succeeding corn compared to those with 30 days decomposition period. The pH and EC values of soils increased by increasing the period of decomposition of rapeseed from 5.2 to 6.4 and from 0.05 dS/m to 0.21 dS/m, respectively. Significant amounts of $NH_4^+$ and $NO_3^-$ are released by incorporation of rapeseed. The succeeding corn took up 86% and 88% of inorganic nitrogen released from the rapeseed with and without decomposition period, respectively. The overall results suggested that the utilization of rapeseed residue as green manure can be an alternative source of nitrogen in corn-rapeseed double cropping system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2000

Mass loss and dynamics of mineral nutrient during decomposition of deciduous leaves and 3 species of needles were investigated for 38 months from October in 1992 to November in 1995 in Kwangneung, Korea. After 38 months, the remaining mass of deciduous leaves, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida and Abies holophylla was 16.2%, 29.8%, 33.5% and 53.9%, respectively. The decay rate (k) of deciduous leaves, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus rigida and Abies holophylla was 0.61, 0.40, 0.37, $0.21yr^{-1}$, respectively. The lowest decay rate in fir needle might be, in part, due to low N concentration. N concentration of the decomposing litter increased during the experimental period except for P. rigida. Deciduous leaves showed a short immobilization period during the early stage of decomposition, and big-cone pine and pitch pine had no immobilization period. However, there was no net N mineralization in fir litter. P increased during the experimental period for all litter. Except for deciduous leaves, there was no net mineralization period. In case of deciduous leaves, however, remaining P after 38 months was 53% of the initial P capital. Remaining cations of the decomposing litter after 38 months were lower than those of initial contents.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.359-364
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• 2011

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of oxidants on biodegradability and decomposition of acetaminophen (ACT) by gamma ray. Three kinds of chemical, potassium persulfate, hydrogen peroxide and ferrous sulfate were selected as an oxidant. The absorbed dose was ranged from 0.2 to 10 kGy and the concentration of oxidants was from 0.1 to 10 mM and the initial concentration of acetaminophen was $30mg\;l^{-1}$ in this study. The concentration of ACT was gradually decreased corresponding to the increase of the absorbed dose. However, mineralization of ACT was not occurred by the increased of the absorbed dose. When the 10 mM of oxidants applied to the ACT aqueous solution, the concentration of ACT was rapidly decreased according to absorbed dose and the mineralization was observed in potassium persulfate. Biodegradability of ACT with potassium persulfate was higher than that of ACT without potassium persulfate in lower absorbed dose and decreased according to higher absorbed dose.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.955-960
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• 2008

We investigated and estimated at the characteristics of decomposition and mineralization of benomyl using a design of experiment(DOE) based on the general factorial design in an E-beam process, and also the main factors(variables) with benomyl concentration(X$_1$) and E-beam irradiation(X$_2$) which consisted of 5 levels in each factor was set up to estimate the prediction model and the optimization conditions. At frist, the benomyl in all treatment combinations except 17 and 18 trials was almost degraded and the difference in the decomposition of benomyl in the 3 blocks was not significant(p > 0.05, one-way ANOVA). However, the % of benomyl mineralization was 46%(block 1), 36.7%(block 2) and 22%(block 3) and showed the significant difference of the % that between each block(p < 0.05). The linear regression equations of benomyl mineralization in each block were also estimated as followed; block 1(Y$_1$ = 0.024X$_1$ + 34.1(R$^2$ = 0.929)), block 2(Y$_2$ = 0.026X$_2$ + 23.1(R$^2$ = 0.976)) and block 3(Y$_3$ = 0.034X$_3$ + 6.2(R$^2$ = 0.98)). The normality of benomyl mineralization obtained from Anderson-Darling test in all treatment conditions was satisfied(p > 0.05). The results of prediction model and optimization point using the canonical analysis in order to obtain the optimal operation conditions were Y = 39.96 - 9.36X$_1$ + 0.03X$_2$ - 10.67X$_1{^2}$ - 0.001X$_2{^2}$ + 0.011X$_1$X$_2$(R$^2$ = 96.3%, Adjusted R$^2$ = 94.8%) and 57.3% at 0.55 mg/L and 950 Gy, respectively. A Microtox test using V. fischeri showed that the toxicity, expressed as the inhibition(%), was reduced almost completely after an E-beam irradiation, whereas the inhibition(%) for 0.5 mg/L, 1 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L was 10.25%, 20.14% and 26.2% in the initial reactions in the absence of an E-beam illumination.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.469-480
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate the degradation and mineralization of PPCPs (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products) using a CBD(Collimated Beam Device) of UV/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation process. The decomposition rate of each substance was regarded as the first reaction rate to the ultraviolet irradiation dose. The decomposition rate constants for PPCPs were determined by the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet irradiation intensity. If the decomposition rate constant is large, the PPCPs concentration decreases rapidly. According to the decomposition rate constant, chlortetracycline and sulfamethoxazole are expected to be sufficiently removed by UV irradiation only without the addition of hydrogen peroxide. In the case of carbamazepine, however, very high UV dose was required in the absence of hydrogen peroxide. Other PPCPs required an appropriate concentration of hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet irradiation intensity. The UV dose required to remove 90% of each PPCPs using the degradation rate constant can be calculated according to the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in each sample. Using this reaction rate, the optimum UV dose and hydrogen peroxide concentration for achieving the target removal rate can be obtained by the target PPCPs and water properties. It can be a necessary data to establish design and operating conditions such as UV lamp type, quantity and hydrogen peroxide concentration depending on the residence time for the most economical operation.