• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Individual ion concentrations and ionic contributions to EC reading in the circulated nutrient solution are the important factors to be considered for stable EC-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to determine appropriate ion-analysis intervals of the circulated nutrient solutions based on ion concentration, ion balance, and ion electrical conductivity under different renewal intervals in EC-based nutrient control systems for sweet peppers (Capsicum annum L. 'Fiesta') in early growth stage. Average node numbers of the plants were 13 and 18 when the experiment started and finished, respectively, and three plants were grown in each rockwool slab. Four different renewal intervals of circulated nutrient solutions such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were used as treatment. Nutrient solutions were supplied to the plants based on integrated radiation. Drainage was collected into drain tanks after irrigation ended in the day and then mixed with fresh water until the EC reaches 2.69 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The replenished nutrient solution was supplied to the plants in the next day. Ion concentrations of the individual ions periodically analyzed in the circulated nutrient solutions showed no significant differences among the treatments during the experimental period. Ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, and $Cl^-$ varied within 5-8, 11-14, 2.0-2.7, 0.5-0.6, 14-19, 4-5, 1-4, and 0.3-0.5 $meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance showed a consistent tendency over all the treatments and especially $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ : ${PO_4}^{3-}$ played great roles in the cation and anion balances in the nutrient solutions, respectively. Activity coefficients of ions such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ varied within 0.8-0.9 and those of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ varied within 0.5-0.6, showing little changes with time. Ionic contributions of $K^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$ to EC reading were the greatest followed by $Ca^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ in the order. From the results, we thought that allowable ranges in ion concentration, ion balance, and subsequent individual ionic contributions to EC reading would be obtained within 4-week renewal interval of nutrient solution in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.73-80
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• 2011

To investigate the characteristics of plant growth and flower quality of gerbera 'Sunny Lemon' by amount of nutrient solution, young seedling plants, 'Sunny Lemon' were transplanted to rock-wool and medium of peat moss and perlite mixed with 1 to 2 and they were acclimatized in greenhouse during about 1 month. Nutrient solution supplied to the plants is sonneveld solution of 1/2 concentration and treatments launched June 24, 2010 when average plant height was $20{\pm}1cm$. Nutrient contents as a standard for starting point of irrigation by time domain reflectometry (TDR) were determined with 60-65%, 70-75%, and 80-85%. Results of growth during vegetative growth, plant height, leaf width and leaf number increased by 10% in rockwool, but they were not significantly different. As for plant growth depending on nutrient content, 80-85% treatment showed the highest values. Leaf number increased by 60%, and leaf width and plant height had a about 40% increase than initial growth. Effectiveness for flower quality, yield and days to flowering were superior when nutrient content of media was higher than in the others. Especially, average days to flowering in 80-85% content was advanced by 7-10 days compared to the day in 60-65% treatment. The total amount of nutrient supply per plant was higher in mixed medium than in rockwool, but change patterns of EC and pH were enhanced in rockwool. Based on our results, we recommended that growth, cut flower, and yield of gerbera 'Sunny Lemon' were more effective when nutrient content of mixed medium was maintained at 80-85%.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2011

Effect of concentrations of different plant growth retardants (PGRs) supplied to a recirculated nutrient solution in an ebb and flow system on the growth and development of potted Spathiphyllum 'Top-Pin' and 'Mini' was examined. Plants were planted in 10 cm diameter plastic pots filled with a mixture of peat moss and perlite (1 : 1, v/v) on 30 June 2005 and grown until 23 Sep. 2005. In a closed ebb and flow system, 50, 200, 350, $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ daminozide (B-9), 10, 40, 70, $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ paclobutrazol (Boundy), 5, 15, 25, $35mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ ethephon (Florel), and 1, 4, 7, $10mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ uniconazole (Sumagic) were supplemented to a nutrient solution at the initiation of experiment. On every irrigation, the nutrient solution containing PGRs was supplied at a 2 cm depth and kept for 15-20 minutes. The surplus nutrient solution was drained back into the tank for next irrigations. Paclobutrazol gave the most pronounced effect in inhibition of stretchiness. The greatest reduction of leaf length, fresh and dry weights of shoot, and elevated chlorophyll content were recorded in Spathiphyllum, with increasing paclobutrazol concentration. Daminozide concentration greater than $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ resulted in minor stunting. The lowest concentration ($1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) of uniconazole showed greater leaf length, leaf width, and leaf petiole length than the control ($0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). Uniconazole concentration greater than $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ resulted in similar plant growth as the plant in the control ($0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). High concentration ($35mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) of ethephon resulted in the shortest leaf length, and the greatest chlorophyll content. Inhibition of stretchiness was observed even in the lowest concentration treatments. Among the PGRs, paclobutrazol was most effective in suppressing plant stretchiness. In both cultivars, ethephon and paclobutrazol, but not daminozide and uniconazole, significantly inhibited stretchiness. The results suggested that plant growth retardants (ethephon or paclobutrazol) selected in this study may be used as the most effective agents for inhibition of stretchiness in Spathiphyllum.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2014

This research was conducted to investigate the influence of leaching fractions (LF) in each irrigation or fertigation on plant growth and changes in chemical properties of root media during the production of seedling grafts of tomato. Two root media containing Sphagnum peat moss plus vermiculite (5:5, v/v, PV) and coir dust plus vermiculite (5:5, v/v, CV) were formulated and pre-planting fertilizers were incorporated during formulation. Then, each medium was packed into 50 cell (volume 33 cc) and 105 cell (volume 18 cc) trays and the rootstock (cv. J3B Strong) and scion (cv. Sunmyung) were grown, respectively. The seedlings were grafted at 31 days after sowing and then the cut seedling grafts (Sunmyung scion/J3B Strong rootstock) were planted into 50 cell plug trays containing each of the two root media. After induction of the graft union and new adventitious roots for 7 days, the seedling grafts were fed with fertilizer solution once a week containing 4 different N concentrations (0, 50, 100, $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). When determined after 31 days from seed sowing, the highest fresh weights of the root stock seedlings were obtained with 0.75 LF in PV (8.96g/seedling) and CV (7.11g/seedling) mixes. The EC of the both mixes were 0.93 and $1.09dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, respectively. The fresh weights of the scion seedlings 31 days after seed sowing were 4.29g with 0.50 LF in the PV and 3.13g with 0.50 LF in the CV. The root medium ECs of the two treatments were 0.76 and $1.34dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, respectively. Fresh weights of the seedling grafts grown for 31 days were greatly influenced by post-planting fertilizer concentrations. The heavier plants were obtained in $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ N treatment than any other treatments in same mixes. The substrate ECs in these two treatments were 0.98 and $1.93dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, respectively, indicating that the desirable range of soluble salts in soil extracts is higher in the CV mix than the PV mix. Results of this study suggest that optimum EC range is different in each medium and LF need to be adjusted differently for each root medium to produce high quality seedling grafts of tomato.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.94-101
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• 2018

Mugwort (Artemisia princeps) is a medicinal plant that has a substance called euphatilin, which is effective for cell damage and gastritis recovery. The objectives of this study were to investigate the annual growth characteristics of Artemisia princeps in greenhouse and to increase the eupatiline content by environmental stresses. Growth and eupatilin content of the plants were compared after 6 weeks of seedling and subsequent 8 weeks of greenhouse cultivation. Photosynthesis of mugwort plants did not saturate even at a relatively high light intensity of $1,200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$. Growth rate of the plants reached its highest at two weeks after transplanting and began to decrease since 8 weeks after transplanting. The plants showed typical characteristics of a perennial herbaceous plant as they were sensitive to seasonal changes. In particular, the plants showed high growth and eupatilin content in spring and summer as vegetative growth periods, but flowering and wintering caused considerable decreases in growth and eupatilin content in fall and winter. Therefore, application of night interruption is essential for year-round cultivationof the plant. Two stresses and a elicitor were treated: drought stresses by stopping irrigation at 5, 6, 7, and 8 days before harvest; salt stresses with nutrient solution concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and $10dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ by adding sodium chloride at 3 days before harvest; and foliar applications of methyl jasmonates of 12.5, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}M$ at 3 days before harvest. Significant increase in eupatilin content was observed at drought stresses of 7- and 8-days of irrigation stop and foliar application of $25{\mu}M$ methyl jasmonate, while no significant increase observed at salt stresses. From the results, it was confirmed that the environmental treatments can improve the productivity and quality of Artemisia princeps as a phamaceutical raw material.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2018

This study was conducted to examine the germination and growth during seedling period of Codonopsis lanceolata and Astragalus membranaceus as affected by different media. The seeds were sown in commercial medium (Tosilee), coir, rockwool, and urethane sponge. The seeds were germinated for 22 days in a closed-type plant production system, and seedlings were grown for 35 days after sowing in the venlo-type glasshouse located on Gyeongsang National University. Nutrient solution was supplied by the sub-irrigation as EC $1.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH 6.5 every second day. Final germination of Codonopsis lanceolata was the significantly highest in the coir and rockwool media as 68.5% and 67.9%, respectively. Mean daily germination was also the highest in the coir and rockwool media as 4.2 and 4.1, respectively. The germination rate of Astragalus membranaceus was not significantly difference in the media types. Plant height and leaf area of Codonopsis lanceolata were the significantly highest in the rockwool medium as 11.5 cm and $11.3cm^2$, respectively. Longest root length and fresh weight of root were the greatest in the coir medium as 5.8 cm and 0.07 g, respectively. Plant height and leaf area of Astragalus membranaceus were the significantly highest in the coir medium as 14.0 cm and $16.9cm^2$, respectively, and fresh and dry weights of root were the highest in the urethane sponge medium as 0.34 g and 0.03 g, respectively. Therefore, these result suggest that the rockwool and coir media were suitable for the germination and growth during seedling period of Codonopsis lanceolata and Astraglus membranaceus.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.152-160
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to analyze hazards for the growing stage of 6 tomato farms (A, B, C; soli farms, D, E, F; Nutriculture farms) located in Gyeongsangnam-do to establish the good agricultural practices (GAP). A total of 144 samples for analyzing hazards collected from cultivation environments (irrigation water, soil, nutrient solution, and air) and personal hygiene (hands, gloves, and cloths) were assessed for biological (sanitary indications and major food borne pathogens) and chemical hazards (heavy metals). Total bacteria, coliform, and fungi were detected at levels of 0.2-7.2, 0.0-6.1, and 0.0-5.4 log CFU/g, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$, respectively. Escherichia coli were only detected in the soil sample from B farm. In case of pathogens, Bacillus cereus was detected at levels of 0.0-4.4 log CFU/(g, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$), whereas Staphylococuus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157, and Salmonella spp. were not detected in all samples. Heavy metals as a chemical hazard were detected in soil and irrigation water, but levels of them were lower than the permit limit. In conclusion, chemical hazard levels complied with GAP criteria, but biological hazards at the growing stage of tomato farms were confirmed. Therefore a proper management to prevent microbial contamination is needed.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2012

The study was conducted in a glasshouse to examine the possibility of producing paprika plug seedlings in a newly developed inert phenolic foam growing medium. Plug seedlings of 'Fascinato' paprika were grown in five media, Grodan rockwool (Grodan Co. Ltd., Denmark), UR rockwool (UR Co. Ltd., Korea), phenolic foam LC (Smithers Oasis Korea Co. Ltd., Korea), phenolic foam RC, and phenolic foam 3813-4 all in a pellet type. Seeds were germinated in a growth chamber ($25^{\circ}C$, 90% RH, dark) for 4-5 days and then seedlings were grown in a glasshouse with nutrient solution supplied by an overhead irrigation system. Seedling growths were measured 20 days after sowing. The medium pH was the highest in the Grodan rockwool, and medium EC was the highest in phenolic foam 3813-4, although no nutritional excess disorders were observed. Germination rates of paprika were higher than 90% in all the media. Plant height, stem diameter, T/R ratio, leaf area, and chlorophyll showed a similar to those in the rockwool medium. Number of leaves, length of the longest root and dry weights of shoot were not significantly different among treatments. Overall, phenolic foam LC and RC produced seedlings with a similar growth as the rockwool medium. The results obtained suggest that rockwool can be replaced with a new material such as phenolic foam in the commercial scale production of plug seedlings of 'Fascinato' paprika.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.701-724
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• 2003

Since the late 19th century, the location and characteristics of Lop-Nor lake have been a major theme of debates among the scholars(Prejevalsky, Richthofen, Kozlov, Hedin, Huntington, Stein, Chen etc.) who have been interested in Inner Asia. In the 1980s the problem to find the exact location and characteristics of Lop-Nor lake was finally solved by the investigation group of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Ironically, it was possible to find the solution by drying up of the lake due to the change of land use and the expansion of irrigation system in Tarim basin. Specially the excessive development of this area for agricultural use by the Xinjiang Production-Construction Army Corps since 1949 must have influenced on drying up of Lop-Nor lake. Furthermore it can be observed to be the very similar situation to Lop-Nor lake in many areas of Chinese Inner Asia Frontier. According to this finding, it may be proposed that human factors played an important role in the changes of Lop-Nor lake over the previous years too. This study can give an insight on the ecological interpretation of Inner Asian history and the environmental interpretation of the rising nationalism in this area.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.240-245
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different height of drainpipe and growing media soilless cultivated cut rose in container culture. Two experiment were to examine the effect of the drainpipe height and media composition on yield and quality of cut rose, Four different drainpipe height (0, 3, 6, 9 cm) were treated to determine of optimal container type. Yield was the highest at 3 cm drainpipe height, but quality was not significantly affected by drainpipe height. Survival rate of rose was 100%, 100%, 92%, and 92%, respectively. Two different drainpipe height (0, 3 cm) and 7 media composition (pure coir and pelite, and mixed with two media 3 : 1, 2 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 3 v/v) was treated to determine of media composition related to drainpipe height. The supply of nutrient solution was controlled by the signal of water potential at -5 kPa using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor in mixed coir with pelite 3 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 3 (v/v), respectively. Irrigation frequency reduced in high ratio of coir media and 3 cm height of drainpipe. Quality of cut rose except for flower weight and yield until 2nd harvest was not significantly affected by drainpipe height, but yield after 3rd was higher at 3 cm than 0 cm height of darinpipe. In the media composition, yield and qulity of cut rose was increased at high ratio of coir media.