• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.314-322
• /
• 2008

This study was carried out to assess aerobic stabilized waste sludge as liquid fertilizer for the growth of cucumber, cabbage and chrysanthemum. Sludge was pretreated with NaOH(40 meq/L) at 40$^{\circ}C$ for 330 min. The number of fecal coliforms in batch test sludge fertilizer was more efficiently reduced than those in continuous one, maybe due to longer SRT. All produced fertilizer belonged to class B according to US EPA requirement at least. Among 6 heavy metals regulated in Korea, As, Cd and Hg were not detectable in plant amended with fertilizer whereas the concentration of Cr, Cu and Pb in plant was less than 10 mg/kg dw. However, Zn and Ni, which were restricted in other country, but not in Korea, were detected in most amount of 118 mg/kg and 15.7 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, based on dry weight of plant, digested sludge(5.4 mg, dw) functioned as better fertilizer rather than activated sludge (4.3 mg, dw), much more fertile when those sludge was pretreated(1.24 mg, dw) compared to untreated one(1.12 mg, dw). But its fertility was 60$\sim$80% of commercial fertilizer and accumulation of Zn, Ti and Cr in plant was founded. Therefore, it could be concluded that sludge-fertilizer can be used for flower unlimitedly, but for edible plant limitedly as additive fertilizer.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.272-279
• /
• 2019

The study was conducted to evaluate the seminal attributes and cryobanking of Achhami (Bos indicus) bull semen. Of two Achhami bulls, 8 ejaculates from each bull were evaluated for seminal attributes. For semen freezing and cryo-banking, 4 ejaculates (having ≥2 mL semen volume, ≥75% of sperm motility and ≥1,000 × 10⁶ cells/mL of sperm concentration) from each bull were used. Semen samples were diluted in egg-yolk-tris-citrate extender using a two-step dilution protocol, and were frozen in liquid nitrogen (LN₂) vapour in a styrofoam box. The mean semen volume, colour, sperm mass activity, motility, viability, concentration, abnormal acrosome, midpiece and tail and, abnormal head of two Achhami bulls were 4.4 ± 0.5 mL vs. 2.5 ± 0.2 mL, 2.5 ± 0.1 vs. 2.4 ± 0.1, 3.5 ± 0.1 vs. 3.5 ± 0.1, 77.0 ± 1.1% vs. 78.3 ± 1.3%, 94.4 ± 0.5% vs. 91.0 ± 0.6%, 1137.7 ± 73.7 × 10⁶ cells/mL vs. 1060.0 ± 44.3 × 10⁶ cells/mL, 10.2 ± 0.5% vs. 10.3 ± 0.5% and 6.7 ± 0.5% vs. 8.2 ± 0.3%, respectively. The post-thawed sperm motility and viability were 53.0 ± 2.0% vs. 50.0 ± 0.0% and 80.2 ± 0.4% vs. 73.2 ± 0.7%, while evaluating by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system, the percentage of the progressive motility, fast motility, slow motility, local motility and immotile sperm were 75%, 68%, 7.4%, 16.6% and 8.6%, respectively. A total number of 620 doses semen straw were cryo-banked. Due to the acceptable post-thawed sperm motility and viability recorded, cryopreservation of Achhami semen is hereby recommended so as to preserve the Achhami breed. For further validation, the fertility will be observed from the produced frozen semen.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2016

Despite the ability of biochar to enhance soil fertility and to mitigate greenhouse gas, its carbon sequestration and profit analysis with arable land application have been a few evaluated. This study was conducted to estimate carbon sequestration and to evaluate profit of greenhouse gas mitigation during corn cultivation periods. For the experiment, the biochar application rates were consisted of pig compost(non application), 2,600(0.2%), 13,000(1%), and 26,000(2%) kg/ha based on pig compost application. For predicting soil carbon sequestration of biochar application, it was appeared to be linear model of Y = 0.5523X - 742.57 ($r^2=0.939^{**}$). Based on this equation, soil carbon sequestration by 0.2, 1 and 2% biochar application was estimated to be 1,235, 3,978, and 14,794 kg/ha, and their mitigations of $CO_2$-eq. emissions were estimated to be 4.5, 14.6, and 54.2 ton/ha, respectively. Their profits were estimated at $14.6 for lowest and $452 for highest. In Korea Climate Exchange, it was estimated that the market price of $CO_2$ in corn cultivation periods with 0.2, 1 and 2% biochar application was $35.6, $115.3 and $428.2 per hectare, respectively. For the plant growth response, it was observed that plant height and fresh ear yield were not significantly different among the treatments. Therefore, these experimental results might be fundamental data for assuming a carbon trading mechanism exists for biochar soil application in agricultural practices.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.174-185
• /
• 2010

Full-length cDNAs are essential for the correct annotation of genomic sequences and for the functional analysis of genes and their products. To elucidate the functions of a large population of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) genes and to search efficiently for agriculturally useful genes, we have been taking advantage of the full-length cDNA Over-eXpresser (FOX) gene hunting system. With oligo dT column it purify the each mRNA from the flower organs, leaf and stem tissue. And about 120,000 cDNAs from the library were transformed into $\lambda$-pFLCIII-F vector. Of which 115,000 cDNAs from the library were transformed into T-DNA binary vector, pBigs for transformation study. We used normalized full-length cDNA and introduced each cDNA into Arabidopsis by in planta transformation. Full-length Chinese cabbage cDNAs were expressed independently under the CaMV 35S promoter in Arabidopsis. Selfed seeds were harvested from transgenic Arabidopsis. We had selected 2,500 transgenic plants by hygromycin antibiotic tolerant test, and obtained a number of transgenic mutants. Each transgenic Arabidopsis was investigated in morphological changes, fertility and leaf colour. As a result, 285 possible morphological mutants were identified. Introduced cDNA was isolated by PCR amplification of the genomic DNA from the transgenic mutants. Sequencing result and BLAST analysis showed that most of the introduced cDNA were complete cDNAs and functional genes. Also, we examined the effect of Bromelain on enhancing resistance to soft rot in transgenic Chinese cabbage 'Osome'. The bromelain gene identified from FOX hunting system was transformed into Chinese cabbage using Agrobacterium methods. Transformants were screened by PCR, then RT-PCR and real time PCR were performed to analyze gene expression of cysteine protease in the T1 and T2 generations. The anti-bacterial activity of bromelain was tested in Chinese cabbages infected with soft rot bacteria. The results showed that the over-expressed bromelain gene from pineapple conferred enhanced resistance to soft rot in Chinese cabbage.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 1981

Weed is one of the problems in the crop land as well as in uncultivated land, raising the farm management costs. Therefore, the weed control is essential for effective agricultural management. The cost for weed control in Korea occupies on the average 27.6% of the total labor cost required. Agricultural policies since 1960 were transferring from yield increase due to land productivities to increase of income due to labor productivities. Therefore, the weed control by hand is also changed to weed control by chemicals. The weed control by chemicals has also brought about some side-effects and needs better, improved weed control methods. The present weed control situation and related problems were studied to present new approaches for agricultural development in the future. There were 458 species of weeds in 82 families which were growing in the crop land. The weeds to control, however, are 12 in paddy field and 9 in upland. So far weeds in paddy field are well under control, while weeds in upland are poorly controlled due to change in chemical efficiency and chemical damage in the upland. The administration, research and extension work for the efficient use of agricultural chemicals have been done by various institutions, such as Office of Rural Development, Office of Forestry, and chemical companies. The courses for agricultural chemicals were offered in the agricultural colleges. However, the efficiency of chemicals could not be maximized due to the poor relationships among related institutes. The newly established Agricultural Chemical Research Center at the Office of Rural Development and the Korean Weed Science Association are expected to contribute toward improving weed control in Korea. The Korean agriculture in the future will eventually be mechanized and the varieties resistant to high nitrogen application and to high plant density will be required for high yields. The rice will be transplanted earlier and the whole growing period will be extended. The application of organic matter will be increased for increasing soil fertility, and the use of agricultural chemicals will be continued. Under such a condition, the studies on the weed occurrence and its integrated control measures will be needed. Also weed controls in the newly exclaimed land, crop varieties, horticultural varieties, forage crops, and forests are also needed to study. Basic and practical researches for the weed control to improve the labor productivity will be also needed. In order to meet the all requirements for efficient weed control, weed control systems including all the academics, research and extension workers, administratives, farmers and companies should be established. Also securing researchers and education of personnels are pre-required and research funds for the chemical studies should be provided efficiently and timely.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.62-69
• /
• 1999

With increased utilization of chemical fertilizer, soil fertility is getting serious problem. As a result, using organic soil conditioner (woody wastes or sawdust compost) would be only solution to recover soil vitality. In this study, manufacturing and characteristics of organic soil conditioner from Shiitake bedlogs (woody wastes) were studied. Also, to investigate the effect of continuous application of this bedlog compost on growth of plants, growth tests for radish and tree seedlings were done. The results are as follows ; Analytical results of decayed and fresh wood materials showed almost same as its wood components. The mixing ratio of raw materials with the other filling materials is essential for the manufacturing as well as good quality of its compost during composting process. In this experiment, mixing 12kg of urea, 25kg of lime, 40kg of chicken shit, and small amount of fermentation aids corresponding to I ton of sawdust resulted in good composts. Their moisture contents were adjusted to about 55%. Temperature of pile, in composting process, rose after I week and kept about above $60^{\circ}C$ for certain period. They were turned two times, 30th and 59th day, respectively, after piling. This bedlog compost contained 81.7% of high organic matter, 1.4% of a little nitrogen, 6.75 of pH and 25 - 30 of C/N ratio. There were no harmful effect on germination and growth of plants, such as radish and softwood and hardwood seedlings. Concerned to the effect of bedlog compost on soil temperature, the compost did not affect plant growth by changing soil temperature abruptly, but compensated the soil temperature such as a little increasing on the early morning, a little decreasing on the mid-day or afternoon (pm 2:00), and increasing on the early evening (pm 6:00).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.174-180
• /
• 1981

As the amount of pesticides consumption increases in agriculture, the side effects of pesticides on soil microorganisms have become an essential part in safety evaluation of pesticide for continued soil fertility. In order to establish the method of safety assessment of pesticides in Korea, a series of tests were carried out. Among the paddy pesticides Fujione (Isoprothiolane, fungicide), Ortran (Acephate, insecticide), and Machete (Butachlor, herbicide) were chosen and the effects of above three pesticides on Korean paddy soil microorganisms were studied. The measurements of pesticide effects on the cycling of carbon ($CO_2$ production), nitrogen fixation ($C_2H_2$ reduction), nitrification, and dehydrogenase activity were carried out. These measurements were complemented by evaluation of pesticide effects on viable microbial numbers. Although Fujione reduced the fungi numbers and inhibited nitrogen cycling activities somewhat, no significant adverse effects were show by any of the tested pesticides in our study.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.50-57
• /
• 2020

BACKGROUND: Biochar is used in various environmental fields, such as water quality and soil restoration, and affects soil fertility and nutrient cycling. Also, when crops are grown on biochar-applied soil, their characteristics may be affected. Biochar is used especially with commercial vegetable seedlings. METHODS AND RESULTS: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of biochar content in seeding mixes on early growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.), and red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Treatments consisted of a control (0: 10, ratio of biochar to seeding mixes (w/w)), 1: 9 (biochar 10%), 3: 7 (biochar 30%), 5: 5 (biochar 50%), and 7: 3 (biochar 70%). The biochar was made from risk husk and had a C/N ratio of 104. As the mixing ratio of biochar increased, pH increased whereas EC and nitrogen content decreased. The highest phosphorus content was with the treatment of 30% biochar, while there were significant increases in the weight of lettuce seedlings and concentrations of T-N, P₂O₅, K₂O, MgO, and Na with the treatments of 30% and 50% biochar. Although the weight of Chinese cabbage seedlings increased with the treatment of 10% biochar, the increase was not statistically significant. Also, there was an increase in the weight of red pepper seedlings with the treatment of 30% biochar, but the increase was not statistically significant. With increases in the biochar mixing ratio, the K₂O concentration of red pepper seedlings increased, but the concentrations of P₂O₅, CaO, MgO, and Na decreased. It was believed that this was because of absorption inhibition by calcium-phosphate formation in the seeding mixes owing to increased pH. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, adding biochar to seeding mixes is considered to be an important mean for growing healthy vegetable seedlings. More field experiments are needed to verify the effect of biochar on vegetable crop growth over the entire growing season.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.280-287
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate agricultural status and soil fertility of Bonghwang-cheon watershed area which is located at Chodong-myeon, Milyang-si. The acreage of arable land was about 1,209ha, and the population was 3,706 people. Out of total arable land, paddy was 64.4%, upland 19.6% and orchard 16.0%. Chicken was the largest in the number of livestock and poultry, but pig seems to contribute most severly to water pollution. The geology in the lower stream was alluvium but andesite and derivated materials from it were occupied most upland areas. Tuff was scattered in the small area near by the alluvium of Nakdong river, and diorite and granodiorite were located at the low hill and mountains respectivately. The principal paddy soils in the area were Geumgog, Jisan and Imgog series etc of fine loamy on sloped valleys and fans. The Pyeongtaeg series, fine silty family of imperfectly drained on plain was irrigated by Chodong reservoir. The clayey Honam series on alluvium was distributed along the low hill while Gyuam series, coarse silty alluvial soil way close to Nakdong river. In chemical properties of soils, the vinyl house soils were higher in EC, and orchard soils in OM, $P_2O_5$, exchangeable canons than other soils.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.273-281
• /
• 2009

Antioxidants partially ameliorated the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on sperm characteristics during in vitro storage. The objective of the present study was to investigate the single or synergetic antioxidative effect of curcumin and Vit. E on the characteristics of fresh boar sperm during in vitro storage. The sperm viability in curcumin, Vit. E supplementation and curcumin+Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ groups remained over 85.0% in 3 hr incubation period, but in 6 hr incubation period, curcumin+Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ groups was sharply dropped than those of curcumin and Vit. E group. The membrane intergrity in all evaluated groups except for $H_2O_2$ group did not significantly difference in 3 hr incubation period. The viability in curcumin or Vit. E supplementation were significantly increased than in curcumin+$H_2O_2$ and Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ group in 6 hr incubation period. The percentage of mitochondrial activity and acrosome intergrity obtained similar trends within same incubation periods irrespective of treatment. The lipid peroxidation of spermatozoal plasma membrane ranged from $11.6{\sim}17.5\;nM/l{\times}10^6$ and $14.0{\sim}19.0\;nM/l{\times}10^6$ in 3 hr and 6 hr incubation periods. In conclusion, curcumin or Vit. E surpplementation alone or cooperatively improved sperm viability index (motility, membrane intergrity, viability and survival rates) and fertility index (mitochondria activity, acrosome intergrity and lipid peroxidation) of fresh boar sperm, indicating that curcumin and Vit. E have a antioxidative properties through its scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide.