• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.115-125
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• 2008

This study was conducted to determine adequate forage crop choice and optimal level of livestock manure, when different types and levels of the livestock manure were applied in corns or sorghum$\times$sorghum hybrids for the production of organic roughages by utilizing livestock manure. For the corn, yields of annual dry matter (DM) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were highest in N+P+K-applied treatments, showing 17.3 and 11.7 ton/ha, respectively. Treatments applied 100% composted cattle manure (8.9 and 6.1 ton/ha) and 100% cattle slurry (9.4 and 7.5 ton/ ha) in contrast with chemical fertilizer-N had higher yields of DM and TDN than no fertilizer (4.8 and 2.7 ton/ha) and P+K-applied treatments (8.8 and 6.0 ton/ha). Particularly, treatments applied 150% composted cattle manure and 150% cattle slurry were markedly higher, which represented 11.4 and 7.6 ton/ha and 10.3 and 7.3 ton/ha, respectively. Crude protein (CP) contents for corns applied livestock manure ranged from 5.6 to 6.6%, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of no fertilizer (3.9%) and P+K-applied treatments (5.5%). ADF (42.4%) and NDF (58.3%) contents for no fertilizer treatment were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of other treatments. However, TDN contents were higher for livestock manure treatments than for no and/or chemical fertilizer treatments. In particular, TDN contents of treatments applied 150% composted cattle manure and 150% cattle slurry showed 72.3 and 70.8%, respectively and both treatments were significantly (p<0.05) higher than all of the other treatments. For the sorghum$\times$sorghum hybrid, yields of annual DM and TDN for 100% (12.4 and 7.4 ton/ha) and 150% (13.1 and 7.6 ton/ha) cattle slurry-applied treatments, and N+P+K-applied treatments (12.6 and 7.7 ton/ha) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those of the others. In the others, 150% composted cattle manure (9.3 and 5.2 ton/ha) had higher annual DM and TDN yields than P+K-applied (8.4 and 4.8 ton/ha) and 100% composted cattle manure treatments (7.4 and 4.2 ton/ha), with no significant difference. Crude protein contents for sorghum$\times$sorghum hybrid applied P+K and cattle slurry were 8.8 and 8.6%, respectively. CP contents for both treatments were significantly higher than those of composted manure ($7.5{\sim}8.3%$) and no fertilizer (4.0%) treatments, but 100% livestock manure treatments had higher CP contents than 150%-applied treatments. ADF and NDF contents for N+P+K and cattle slurry-applied treatments were significantly (p<0.05) lower than the others. However, TDN contents were highest in N+P+K and cattle slurry-applied treatments, showing 61.2 and 58.3 to 59.4%, respectively. These results indicated that application of livestock manure instead of chemical fertilizer to the soil of forage crops might not only improve yields of DM and TDN, but also reduce environmental pollution by producing organic roughages through recycling of livestock manure.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 1968

This study aimed at contributing to the improvement of cropping systems after finding out the effects of excrements and components of crop root influence on other crops as well as themselves. The following forage crops suitable for our country were selected for the present study. Aqueous extracts of fresh roots, aqueous extracts of rotting roots and aqueous solutions of excrements of red clover, orchard grass and brome grass were studied for the effects influencing the germination and growth of seedlings of red clover, ladino clover, lespedeza, soybean, orchard grass, Italian ryegrass, brome grass, barley, wheat, sorghum, corn and Hog-millet. In view of the possibility that the organic acid might be closely related to the excrements and components of crop root connected with soil sickness, the acid components of three species of roots were analysed by paper chromatography and gas chromatography method. The following results were obtained: 1. Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Fresh Roots : Aqueous extracts of red clover: The extracts inhibited the growth of seedlings of the ladino clover and lespedeza and also inhibited the development of most crops except that of sorghum among the Graminaceae. Aqueous extracts of orchard grass: The extracts promoted the seedlings growth of red clover and soybean, while it inhibited the germination and growth of orchard grass. There were no noticeable effects influencing other crops while it inhibited the growth of barley and Hog-millet. Aqueous extracts of brome grass: There was no effect on Italian ryegrass but there was an inhibiting effect on the other crops. 2. Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Rotting Roots : Aqueous extracts of red clover: The extracts promoted the seedling growth of red clover. But it reflected the inhibiting effects on other crops except sorghum. Aqueous extracts of orchard grass: The extracts promoted the growth of red clover, ladino clover, soybean and sorghun, while it inhibited the germination and rooting of barley and Hog-millet. Aqueous extracts of brome grass: The extracts gave the promotive effects to the growth of red clover, soybean and sorghum, but caused inhibiting effects on orchard grass, brome grass, barley and Hog-millet. 3. Effects of Aqueous Solutions of Excrements : The aqueous solution of excrements of red clover reflected the inhibition effects to the growth of Graminaceae, while the aqueous solutions of excrements of orchard grass and Italian ryegrass caused the promotive effects on the growth of red clover. 4. Results of Organic Acid Analysis : The oxalic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, malonic acid, malic acid and succinic acid were included in the roots of red clover as unvolatile organic acid, and in the orchard grass and brome grass there were included the oxalic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and malic acid. And formic acid was confirmed in the red clover, orchard grass and brome grass as volatile organic acid. In consideration of the results mentioned in above the effects of excrements and components of roots found in this studies may be summarized as follows. 1) The red clover generally gave a disadvantageous effect on the Graminaceae. Such trend was considered chiefly caused by the presence of many organic acids, namely oxalic, citric, tartaric, malonic, malic, succinic and formic acid. 2) The orchard grass generally gave an advantageous effect on the Leguminosae. This may be due to a few kinds of organic acid contained in the root, namely oxalic, citric, tartaric, malic and formic acid. Furthermore a certain of promotive materials for growth was noted. 3) As long as the root of brome grass are not rotten, it gave a disadvantageous effect on the Leguminosae and Graminaceae. This may be due to the fact that several unidentified volatile organic acid were also included besides the confirmed organic acid, namely oxalic, citric, tartaric, malic and formic acid. 5. Effects of Components in Roots to the Soil Sickness : 1) It was considered that the cause of alleged red clover's soil sickness did not result from the toxic components of the roots. 2) It was recognized that the toxic components of roots might be the cause of soil sickness in case the orchard grass and brome grass were put into the long-term single cropping. 6. Effects of Rooted Components to the Companion Crops in the Cropping System : a) In case of aqueous extracts of fresh roots and aqueous excrements (Inter cropping and mixed cropping) : 1) Advantageous combinations : Orchard grass->Red clover, Soybean, Italian ryegrass->Red clover, 2) Disadvantageous combinations : Red clover->Ladino clover, Lespedeza, Orchard grass, Italian ryegrass, Fescue Ky-31, Brome grass, Barley, Wheat, Corn and Hog.millet, Orchard grass->Lespedeza, Orchard grass, Barley and Hog-millet, Brome grass->Red clover, Ladino clover, Lespedeza, Soybean, Orchard grass, Brome grass, Barley, Wheat, Sorghum, Corn and Hog-millet, 3) Harmless combinations : Red clover->Red clover, Soybean and Sorghum, Orchard grass->Ladino clover, Italian ryegrass, Brome grass, Wheat, Sorghum and Corn, Brome grass->Italian ryegrass, b) In case of aquecus extracts of rotting roots(After cropping) : 1) Advantageous combinations : Red clover->Red clover and Sorghum, Orchard grass->Red clover, Ladino clover, Soybean, Sorghum, and Corn, Brome grass->Red clover, Soybean and Sorghum, 2) Disadvantageous combinations : Red clover->Lespedeza, Orchard grass, Italian ryegrass, Brome grass, Barley, Wheat, and Hog-millet Orchard grass->Barley and Hog-millet, Brome grass->Orchard grass, Brome grass, Barley and Hog-millet, 3) Harmless combinations : Red clover->Ladino clover, Soybean and Corn, Orchard grass->Lespedeza, Orchard grass, Italian ryegrass, Brome grass and Wheat Brome gass->Ladino clover, Lespedeza, Italian ryegrass and Wheat.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.435-443
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• 2012

This study investigated soil carbon storage and microbial activities influenced by different management practices in rice paddies and pastures. Soils under a single-crop farming of rice (CON) and rice-Italian ryegrass rotation farming (IRG) were compared in Jangheung, Jeollanam-do, Seocheon and Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do. Soils from pastures were analyzed to investigate the effect of duration period (P1, P2, P3) in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do and Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do. In rice paddy, total and particulate carbon (PC) concentrations in the IRG soils were significantly higher than those in the CON soils both in Jangheung and Seocheon where the IRG has been established for three years, whereas carbon concentrations were not significantly different in Cheonan where IRG planting history is only one year. In rice paddy soils, PC was suggested as an early indicator to monitor changes in soil carbon storage followed by adopting different management practices. In pasture, total and PC concentrations increased with duration period especially in the 0-5 cm soils. Contrary to the rice paddy soils, the magnitude of change in PC concentration is not as great as that in total carbon concentration, implying that there is a need to develop a new early indicator other than PC using different fractionation scheme. The soil carbon storage in pasture also increased with years since establishment and the increasing rate was significantly greater in the early stage (0-5 yrs) than the later one (> 5 yrs). Microbial activities measured from fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis analysis were significantly lower in the IRG soils than CON soils, whereas no difference was observed in the pastures of different ages. This shows that FDA activity is not a sensitive indicator to differentiate soil qualities influenced by management practices if it is used by itself.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.836-842
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to evaluate potential benefits of intercropping of corn with runner bean for a smallsized farming system, based on land equivalent ratio (LER) and silage yield and quality of corn intercropped with runner bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), in arid conditions of Turkey under an irrigation system. This experiment was established as a split-plot design in a randomized complete block, with three replications and carried out over two (consecutive) years in 2006 and 2007. Seven different mixtures (runner bean, B and silage corn sole crop, C, 10% B+90% C, 20% B+80% C, 30% B+70% C, 40% B+60%C, and 50% B+50%C) of silage corn-runner bean were intercropped. All of the mixtures were grown under irrigation. The corn-runner bean fields were planted in the second week of May and harvested in the first week of September in both years. Green beans were harvested three times each year and green bean yields were recorded each time. After the 3rd harvest of green bean, residues of bean and corn together were randomly harvested from a 1 $m^{2}$ area by hand using a clipper when the bean started to dry and corn was at the dough stage. Green mass yields of each plot were recorded. Silages were prepared from each plot (triplicate) in 1 L mini-silos. After 60 d ensiling, subsamples were taken from this material for determination of dry matter (DM), pH, organic acids, chemical composition, and in vitro DM digestibility of silages. The LER index was also calculated to evaluate intercrop efficiencies with respect to sole crops. Average pH, acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations were similar but lactic acid and ammonia-N levels were significantly different (p<0.05) among different mixtures of bean intercropped with corn. Ammonia-N levels linearly increased from 0.90% to 2.218 as the percentage of bean increased in the mixtures up to a 50:50 seeding ratio. While average CP content increased linearly from 6.47 to 12.45%, and average NDF and ADF contents decreased linearly from 56.17 to 44.88 and from 34.92 to 33.51%, respectively, (p<0.05) as the percentage of bean increased in the mixtures up to a 50:50 seeding ratio, but DM and OM contents did not differ among different mixtures of bean intercropped with corn (p>0.05). In vitro OM digestibility values differed significantly among bean-corn mixture silages (p<0.05). Fresh bean, herbage DM, IVOMD, ME yields, and LER index were significantly influenced by percentage of bean in the mixtures (p<0.01). As the percentage of bean increased in the mixtures up to a 50:50 seeding ratio, yields of fresh bean (from 0 to 24,380 kg/ha) and CP (from 1,258.0 to 1,563.0 kg/ha) and LER values (from 1.0 to 1.775) linearly increased, but yields of herbage DM (from 19,670 to 12,550 kg/ha), IVOMD (from 12,790 to 8,020 kg/ha) and ME (46,230 to 29,000 Mcal/ha) yields decreased (p<0.05). In conclusion, all of the bean-corn mixtures provided a good silage and better CP concentrations. Even though forage yields decreased, the LER index linearly increased as the percentage of bean increased in the mixture up to a 50:50 seeding ratio, which indicates a greater utilization of land. Therefore, a 50:50 seeding ratio seemed to be best for optimal utilization of land in this study and to provide greater financial stability for labor-intensive, small farmers.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.458-465
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• 2010

To investigate the growth and nutrient uptake response of sorghum${\times}$sudangrass ($S{\times}S$) hybrid to different rate of livestock manure compost, a field experiment was conducted in the experimental grassland of Chonnam National University. Six treatments were laid out in a randomized block design with triplicates; control (no input), synthetic fertilizer (20 g N $m^{-2}$ and 20 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), compost 1 (3.4 g N $m^{-2}$ and 3.6 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), compost 2 (6.8 g N $m^{-2}$ and 7.2 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), compost 4 (13.4 g N $m^{-2}$ and 14.4 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$), and compost 6 (20.2 g N $m^{-2}$ and 21.6 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$). Ninety days after treatment, above-ground parts of the plants were harvested and measured for dry matter yield (DMY) and amounts of nutrients (N and P) uptake. Synthetic fertilizer application achieved the greatest DMY (2.4 kg $m^{-2}$) and nutrient uptake (38.3 g N $m^{-2}$ and 15.3 g $P_2O_5\;m^{-2}$). Increasing compost application rate tended to enhance DMY accumulation and nutrient uptake (P<0.01), but DMYs of compost 4 (1.9 kg $m^{-2}$) and 6 (1.8 kg $m^{-2}$) treatments were not different. Therefore, it was suggested that application compost alone may not achieve DMY of $S{\times}S$ hybrid compatible to synthetic fertilizer application. As nutrient uptake efficiency data showed that availability of compost P could be better than SF, it might be a strategy to apply compost as P source with supplementary N application such as liquid manure, SF or green manure if necessary considering availability of N input and the yield goals.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2012

Reusing livestock manure have various advantages in securing soil organic resources. In this study, the N-loading and recycling capacity assessment of animal manure was analyzed by comparing between the cultivated areas of crops and the amount of manure units that are generated from livestock manure. From this assessment, the possibility of recycling resources of livestock manure was evaluated. The amount generated of livestock manure in Gyeonggi-do were evaluated by applying the manure units to the number of livestock manure. The analysis of manure unit per ha shows that the N loading by MU is quite different by region. When it comes to nitrogen loading, the MU per ha of cultivated land in excess of the N-amount was the highest in the Gyeonggi-do province with 2.70 MU/ha, which is higher than the appropriate level. The Chungcheongnam-do province came next with 2.31 MU. So the recycling capacity assessment was carried out mainly based on areas of forage crops, rice that can be provided by recycling livestock manure. The recycling capacity ware highest in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do. In order to properly apply the livestock manure into organic resources, the seasonal situation that effects the nitrogen demands of crops along with the regional effects crop cultivation should be seriously analyzed. In addition, a system that can effectively produce and manage fertilizer should be established.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2008

This study was carried out to find the botanical characters and effect of weed control for herbicides treatment after barley sowing. Barley variety used in study was "Yuyeon", hood-type awn for whole crop forage use, which developed at RDA in 2004. Sowing date was on 10th October, 2007, and was drilled as $60{\times}20cm$. Herbicides were treated on 2th day after barley sowing. Measured items were number and kinds of weeds at each treatment and growth characteristics and grain yield in barley. Cerastium holosteoides var. hallaisanense among weeds surveyed at tillering stages in Butachlor treatment were highly appeared, but Alopecurus aequalis var. amurensis did not appeared while Alopecurus aequalis var. amurensis was 39 plants and Capeslla bursa-pastoris was 37 plants in check. Occurrence of the Capeslla bursa-pastoris at primary survey and Cerastium holosteoides var. hallaisanense in ripening stage were high, while Alopecurus aequalis var. amurensis did not emerged. Botanical characteristics of barley each as plant height, number of tillers and spiklets per plant. surveyed at ripening stage were higher than check. Grain yield per 10a was the highest at Alachlor among treatments, while dry matter of leaf and culm were similar among treatments. Therefore, effect of yield increasing of barley by herbicide after sowing was reconfirmed through this study. Especially, effect of Alachlor was lightly high compared with others.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.103-134
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• 1977

The physiological and biochemical role of potassium for upland crops according to recent research reports and the nutritional status of potassium in Korea were reviewed. Since physical and chemical characteristics of potassium ion are different from those of sodium, potassium can not completely be replaced by sodium and replacement must be limited to minimum possible functional area. Specific roles of potassium seem to keep fine structure of biological membranes such as thylacoid membrane of chloroplast in the most efficient form and to be allosteric effector and conformation controller of various enzymes principally in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Potassium is essential to improve the efficiency of phoro- and oxidative- phosphorylation and involve deeply in all energy required metabolisms especially synthesis of organic matter and their translocation. Potassium has many important, physiological functions such as maintenance of osmotic pressure and optimum hydration of cell colloids, consequently uptake and translocation of water resulting in higher water use efficiency and of better subcellular environment for various physiological and biochemical activities. Potassium affects uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients and quality of products. potassium itself in products may become a quality criteria due to potassium essentiality for human beings. Potassium uptake is greatly decreased by low temperature and controlled by unknown feed back mechanism of potassium in plants. Thus the luxury absorption should be reconsidered. Total potassium content of upland soil in Korea is about 3% but the exchangeable one is about 0.3 me/100g soil. All upland crops require much potassium probably due to freezing and cold weather and also due to wet damage and drought caused by uneven rainfall pattern. In barley, potassium should be high at just before freezing and just after thawing and move into grain from heading for higher yield. Use efficiency of potassium was 27% for barley and 58% in old uplands, 46% in newly opened hilly lands for soybean. Soybean plant showed potassium deficiency symptom in various fields especially in newly opened hilly lands. Potassium criteria for normal growth appear 2% $K_2O$ and 1.0 K/(Ca+Mg) (content ratio) at flower bud initiation stage for soybean. Potassium requirement in plant was high in carrot, egg plant, chinese cabbage, red pepper, raddish and tomato. Potassium content in leaves was significantly correlated with yield in chinese cabbage. Sweet potato. greatly absorbed potassium subsequently affected potassium nutrition of the following crop. In the case of potassium deficiency, root showed the greatest difference in potassium content from that of normal indicating that deficiency damages root first. Potatoes and corn showed much higher potassium content in comparison with calcium and magnesium. Forage crops from ranges showed relatively high potassium content which was significantly and positively correlated with nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium content. Percentage of orchards (apple, pear, peach, grape, and orange) insufficient in potassium ranged from 16 to 25. The leaves and soils from the good apple and pear orchards showed higher potassium content than those from the poor ones. Critical ratio of $K_2O/(CaO+MgO)$ in mulberry leaves to escape from winter death of branch tip was 0.95. In the multiple croping system, exchangeable potassium in soils after one crop was affected by the previous crops and potassium uptake seemed to be related with soil organic matter providing soil moisture and aeration. Thus, the long term and quantitative investigation of various forms of potassium including total one are needed in relation to soil, weather and croping system. Potassium uptake and efficiency may be increased by topdressing, deep placement, slow-releasing or granular fertilizer application with the consideration of rainfall pattern. In all researches for nutritional explanation including potassium of crop yield reasonable and practicable nutritional indices will most easily be obtained through multifactor analysis.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.171-188
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• 1977

The response and effect on main upland crops to potassium were discussed and summarized as follows. 1. Adequate average amounts of potash per 10a were 32kg for forage crop; 22.5kg for vegetable crops; 17.3kg for fruit trees; 13.3kg for potatoes; and 6.5kg for cereal crops. Demand of potassium fertilizer in the future will be increased by expanding the acreage of forage crops, vegetable crops and fruit trees. 2. On the average, optimum potash rates on barley, wheat, soybean, corn, white potato and sweet potato were 6.5, 6.9, 4.5, 8.1, 8.9, and 17.7kg per 10a respectively. Yield increaments per 1kg of potash per 10a were 4-5kgs on the average for cereal crops, 68kg for white potato, and 24kg for sweet potato. 3. According to the soil testing data, the exchangeable potassium in the coastal area was higher than that in the inland area and medium in the mountainous area. The exchangeable potassium per province in decreasing order is Jeju>Jeonnam>Kangweon>Kyongnam. Barley : 4. The response of barley to an adequate rate of potassium seemed to be affected more by differences in climatic conditions than to the nature of the soil. 5. The response and the adequate rate of potassium in the southern area, where the temperature is higher, were low because of more release of potassium from the soil. However, the adequate rate of phosphorus was increased due to the fixation of applied phosphorus into the soil in high temperature regions. The more nitrogen application would be required in the southern area due to its high precipitation. 6. The average response of barley to potassium was lower in the southern provinces than northern provinces. Kyongsangpukdo, a southern province, showed a relatively higher response because of the low exchangeable potassium content in the soil and the low-temperature environment in most of cultivation area. 7. Large annual variations in the response to and adequate rates of potassium on barley were noticed. In a cold year, the response of barley to potassium was 2 to 3 times higher than in a normal year. And in the year affected by moisture and drought damage, the responses to potassium was low but adequate rates was higher than cold year. 8. The content of exchangeable potassium in the soil parent materials, in increasing order was Crystalline Schist, Granite, Sedimentary and Basalt. The response of barley to potash occurred in the opposite order with the smallest response being in Crystalline Schist soil. There was a negative correlation between the response and exchangeable potassium contents but there was nearly no difference in the adequate rates of potassium. 9. Exchangeable potassium according to the mode of soil deposition was Alluvium>Residium>Old alluvium>Valley alluvium. The highest response to potash was obtained in Valley alluvium while the other s showed only small differences in responses. 10. Response and adequate rates of potassium seemed to be affected greatly by differences in soil texture. The response to potassium was higher in Sandy loam and Loam soils but the optimum rate of potassium was higher in Clay and Clay loam. Especially when excess amount of potassium was applied in Sandy loam and Loam soils the yield was decreased. 11. The application of potassium retarded the heading date by 1.7 days and increased the length of culm. the number of spikelet per plant, the 1,000 grain weight and the ratio of grain weight to straw. Soybean : 12. Average response of soybean to potassium was the lowest among other cereal crops but 28kg of grain yield was incrased by applying potash at 8kg/10a in newly reclaimed soils. 13. The response in the parent materials soil was in the order of Basalt (Jeju)>Sedimentay>Granite>Lime stone but this response has very wide variations year to year. Corn : 14. The response of corn to potassium decreased in soils where the exchangeable potassium content was high. However, the optimum rate of applied potassium was increased as the soil potassium content was increased because corn production is proportional to the content of soil potassium. 15. An interaction between the response to potassium and the level of phosphorus was noted. A higher response to potassium and higher rates of applied potassium was observed in soils contained optimum level of phosphorus. Potatoes : 16. White potato had a higher requirement for nitrogen than for potassium, which may imply that potato seems to have a higher capability of soil potassium uptake. 17. The yield of white potato was higher in Sandy loam than in Clay loam soil. Potato yields were also higher in soils where the exchangeable potassium content was high even in the same soil texture. However, the response to applied potassium was higher in Clay loam soils than in Sandy loam soils and in paddy soil than in upland soil. 18. The requirement for nitrogen and phosphorus by sweet potato was relatively low. The sweet potato yield is relatively high even under unfavorable soil conditions. A characteristics of sweet potatoes is to require higher level of potassium and to show significant responses to potassium. 19. The response of sweet potato to potassium varied according to soil texture. Higher yields were obtained in Sandy soil, which has a low exchangeable potassium content, by applying sufficient potassium. 20. When the optimum rate of potassium was applied, the yields of sweet potato in newly reclaimed soil were comparable to that in older upland soils.