• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.967-976
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• 2023

Biochar is emerging as a promising substance for achieving carbon neutrality and climate change mitigation. It can absorb several nutrients via ion bonding on its surface functional groups, resulting in slow dissociation of the bonds. Biochar, like organic fertilizers, contributes to sustainable nutrient management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrient-coated biochar amendments on leafy vegetables production and soil fertility. The nutrient-coated biochar was produced by soaking rice husk biochar in a nutrient solution containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus, and potassium for 24 hours. Nutrient-coated biochar and organic fertilizers were applied to soil at a rate of 120 kg·N·ha^-1. The growth components of the leafy vegetables showed that nutrient-coated biochar led to the highest fresh weight (FW) of both lettuce and kale (i.e., 146.67 and 93.54 g·plant^-1 FW, respectively). As a result, nutrient-coated biochar amendments led to superior yield compared to the control treatment and organic fertilization. The elemental composition of leafy vegetables revealed that soil amended with nutrient-coated biochar resulted in higher nutrient contents, which was attributed to the high nutrient contents supplied by the rice husk biochar. Soil amendment with nutrient-coated biochar positively enhanced the soil fertility compared to amendment with organic fertilizer. Therefore, nutrient-coated biochar is a promising substance for enhancing agronomic performance of leafy vegetables and improving soil fertility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

When designing a river, it is important to select the appropriate bank revetment methods, but there are no specific guidelines until now. Accordingly, it is important to prevent over-budgeting by deciding the suitability of the adopted bank revetment methods when designing a river. In this study, an assessment method was developed to assess the suitability of the adopted bank revetment methods when designing a river. By adopting this method to eight rivers, its validity was examined. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used for the assessment, along with suitability index (SI) of the adopted bank revetment methods when designing a river. In order to select the best bank revetment methods, all environmental variables of the selected location have to be considered. Accordingly, to assess the designed bank revetment methods, all variables of the selected location have to be considered. The assessing items include hydraulic stability, environmental-ecological feasibility, economy, and amenity of the bank revetment. Each item includes four to five sub-items, and each sub-items reflect survey results on the locations. The assessment method was adopted and assessed for eight rivers, and bank revetments was designed to determine the SI. The result of this study is considered to be appropriate when assessing an eco-friendly bank revetment methods, and inappropriate designed bank revetments will guide future planners for selecting the most appropriate construction method.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.15-26
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• 2020

In recent years, there is an increasing interest in environmental friendly treatment of waste-plastics in terms of the generation of microplastics. Accordingly, the recycling of waste-plastics is very important because it provides advantages of volume reduction, mitigation of carbon dioxide emission, and reproduction of value-added products. In particular, in order to recycle the eco-friendly waste-plastics, it is necessary to use a physical separation methods, and among them, flotation separation, which can separate material (i.e., polymer component) in waste-plastics is well known as a very effective separation method in terms of material recycle. Therefore, in this review, the research trend of flotation separation for effective separation of mixture waste-plastics was investigated. In addition, through the reported research results, approaches to use as new functional materials from polymers, which are raw materials for waste-plastics, are summarized.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.533-541
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• 2017

Agricultural landscape has many ecosystem service functions. However, the development of the horticulture complex has no consideration for environmental conservation. Therefore, we analyzed the priorities of ecosystem service functions required for the composition. The study was conducted in three stages. As a result of the first survey, 17 functions were selected to be improved. In the second survey, 12 functions were selected excluding 5 functions. Finally, 1. Measures for water purification, 2. Groundwater recharge plan, 3. Surface water storage space, 4. Flood control measures, 5. Vegetation diversity space, 6. Carbon emission reduction plan, 7. Aquatic insect habitat space, 8. Amphibian reptiles 9. Landscape and Waste Management, 10. Bird Species Space, 11. Heat Island Mitigation Plan, 12. Experience / Ecological Education Plan. We proposed the structure, capacity, flow rate, arrangement and form of the water treatment facility to improve water quality by improving the function. We proposed a reservoir space of 7-10% for groundwater recharge. The development of reservoir and storage facilities suitable for the Korean situation is suggested for the surface water storage and flood control measures. And proposed to secure a green space for the climate cycle. Proposed habitat and nutrient discharge management for biodiversity. We propose green area development and wetland development to improve the landscape, and put into the facilities for experiential education. The results of the research can be utilized for the development and improvement of the horticultural complex.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2020

Blooms of the small centric diatom Stephanodiscus is quite occasional in winter season in temperate freshwater ecosystems. Often, it leads to degradation of water quality and affects quality of supplied drinking water. In previous studies, naphthoquinone (NQ) compounds have been shown to be effective and selective for controlling winter bloom species Stephanodiscus hantzschii. We conducted a 5 ton scale mesocosm experiment to investigate the effects of NQ on native Stephanodiscus sp. collected from Nakdonggang River in water. After treatment with NQ 4-6 compound (0.2 μM), the cell density of Stephanodiscus sp. was rapidly reduced from 5 × 10³ cells mL^-1 to 0.2 × 10³ cells mL^-1 for 10 days. Additionally, NQ 4-6 compound did not affect physicochemical factors (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nutrients) and biological factors (bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates, zooplankton). Therefore, these findings suggest that the NQ 4-6 compound has potential as an alternative algicidal substances to effectively mitigate natural Stephanodiscus sp. blooms, and the application of NQ 4-6 compound will restore the healthy aquatic ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.114-126
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• 2020

Bloom-forming toxic cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. are common in the summer season in temperate freshwater ecosystems. Often, it leads to the degradation of water quality and affects the quality of drinking water. In a previous study, NQ (naphthoquinone) compounds were shown to be effective, selective, and ecologically safe algicides for Microcystis spp. blooms. To analyze the superiority of developed NQ derivatives, we conducted a microcosm experiment using clay, which is frequently used in South Korea. Similar to previous studies, the NQ 40 and NQ 2-0 compounds showed high algicidal activities of 99.9% and 99.6%, respectively, on Microcystis spp. at low concentrations (≥1 μM) and enhanced phytoplankton species diversity. However, when treated with clay, a temporary algicidal effect was seen at the beginning of the experiment that gradually increased at the end. In addition, treatment with the NQ compounds did not affect either the abiotic or biological factors, and similar trends were observed with the control. These results showed that the NQ 2-0 compound was more effective, with no ecosystem disturbance, and more economical than the currently used clay. These results suggest that NQ 2-0 compound could be a selective, economically and ecologically safe algicide to mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms in the field.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

With the continuous expansion of highway network and its traffics, neighboring wildlife habitats are splitted into smaller and more isolated patches. The infrastructures contribute to the wildlife-vehicle collision by creating barriers to animal movement. This kinds of traffic accidents are dangerous factors to the drivers' safety and the facilities on the highway as well as to the wildlife themselves. One of the most common ways to prevent habitat fragmentation are fauna crossings and fences. The cost of the mitigation measures to prevent wildlife-vehicle collision could be monetized. However their economic benefits are difficult to be measured. Using contingent valuation method, this study tries to estimate the economic valuation of wildlife collision prevention projects on the Korean highways. The result shows that 43.88% of Korean household had the positive willingness pay to the projects. Moreover, we found that the recognition of the project or the favourable attitude to the environmental issues could raise the willingness-to-pay. Therefore, active public relation on the project could make the friendly public opinion and increase the number of the household which has the positive willingness-to-pay on the project.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.272-278
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• 2016

Porous pavements are recommended as a Low-Impact Development (LID) method which is a strategy to develop a water cycle as close to a natural state as possible, and to solve the urban impervious surface problems. Porous pavements can yield a solution if it provides a more permeable surface with extra space to contain extra water from building roofs. But there are few applications in Korea because of a lack of recognition and experience. Highway engineers are mainly concerned about the infiltration of water into pavement structures. They worry about the weakening of the asphalt mixture and subgrade, and freezing during the winter season due to the infiltration of water. Meanwhile, hydrological experts doubt the effects of the amount of water to control during the flooding season, and environmental experts prefer a non-point pollution treatment system established beside highway. In this study, from reviewing the history and the body of literature about porous pavements, conclusions regarding the most advanced technologies were made. First, traditional thickness designs can be used for porous pavement, no extra distresses was found by weakening and freezing during the winter season. Second, hydrological design can be made by controlling the thickness of the pavement and the outlet of water. Third, the treatment efficiency of non-point pollution of porous pavements is not worse than any other method. Importantly, it's a more eco-friendly solution because of its lower requirement for de-icing agents.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.109-133
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• 2014

With a growing concern about climate change and green house gases mitigation, carbon labeling policy has been launched in several countries as an environmental policy which connects low carbon production to low carbon consumption. This research aims to propose a model that explains consumers' attitude and brand loyalty toward carbon labeling products. This model specifies the consumer's psychological processes by which consumer values, such as autonomy and environmental values, affect carbon labeling product and corporate images and finally form brand loyalty toward carbon labeling products. Panel data were collected in two separate surveys and analyzed using a structural equation technique. Results are summarized as follows. First, consumers' autonomy value(AV) positively affects locus of control(LC) and corporate image(CI). Second, consumers' environmental value(EV) positively influences perceived consumer effectiveness(PCE), which in turn has a negative effect on perceived barriers(PB). Perceived barriers finally affect product image(PI) negatively. Third, both corporate image and product image have causal relationships with brand loyalty. Our results suggest that carbon labeling policy contributes not only to the reduction of greenhouse gases but also to the increase of consumers' attitude and brand loyalty toward carbon labeling products. This research also provides governments with directions for efficient environmental policy and firms with guidance on effective marketing strategies about carbon labeling.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.17 no.sup
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• pp.7-20
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• 2011

This study was conducted to analyze the mixing ratio of raw feed materials for the methane mitigation and also to identify the minimum rearing density for improving the productivity of beef calves as eco-friendly fodder. Raw materials used in this study for the formulation of feed for methane reduction were crushed corn and alfalfa along with other 21 species. In addition, to investigate the appropriate rearing density, 12 Hanwoo calves with average weight of 150 kg was selected and experiment was conducted for four months. Methane gas emission (Bo) is about 3-4 times less in TMR 4 compared to TMR 1, 2 and 3. Feed price calculated for TMR 4 ration was also affordable. In addition, all TMRs showed a normal ruminal pH. Disappearance rate was observed to be lower in TMR 4 as compared to TMR 1, 2 and 3, but methane production decreased by 24 to 37%. The result showed improved total body weight, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio in rearing low-density ($18m^2/head$), and general treatment ($9m^2/head$) compared to overcrowding treatment ($6m^2/head$). In addition, blood components (total protein, glucose, AST, ALT and GGT factors) involved in health and disease treatments and health-related nutrition metabolism are lower in the low-density and general treatment compared to the high density treatment. Postural development (development of body size) i.e., weight, height and width significantly increased in the low and general density treatment compared to high density treatment. Especially excellent improvement was observed in low-density treatment than the general treatment. Moisture content, colonic bacteria and coccidium are higher in low and high density treatments than in the general treatment. The adequacy for beef rearing density is considered to be more desirable in an area more than $6m^2/head$. In conclusion, present study suggests that possibility of methane reduction through adjusting mixed feed ration. Also, rearing density is also an important factor in the growth and development of beef calves.