• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Various culture media have been used for hydroponic cultures of horticultural plants under the smart greenhouses with natural and artificial light types. Management of the culture medium for the control of medium amounts and/or necessary components absorbed by plants during the cultivation period is performed with ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and/or IoT (Internet of Things) in a smart farm system. This study was conducted to develop the cloud-based data analysis system for effective management of culture medium applying to hydroponic culture and plant growth in smart greenhouses. METHODS AND RESULTS: Conventional inorganic Yamazaki and organic media derived from agricultural byproducts such as a immature fruit, leaf, or stem were used for hydroponic culture media. Component changes of the solutions according to the growth stage were monitored and plant growth was observed. Red and green lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) which developed 2~3 true leaves were considered as plant materials. The seedlings were hydroponically grown in the smart greenhouse with fluorescent and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) lights of $150{\mu}mol/m^2/s$ light intensity for 35 days. Growth data of the seedlings were classified and stored to develop the relational database in the virtual machine which was generated from an open stack cloud system on the base of growth parameter. Relation of the plant growth and nutrient absorption pattern of 9 inorganic components inside the media during the cultivation period was investigated. The stored data associated with component changes and growth parameters were visualized on the web through the web framework and Node JS. CONCLUSION: Time-series changes of inorganic components in the culture media were observed. The increases of the unfolded leaves or fresh weight of the seedlings were mainly dependent on the macroelements such as a $NO_3-N$, and affected by the different inorganic and organic media. Though the data analysis system was developed, actual measurement data were offered by using the user smart device, and analysis and comparison of the data were visualized graphically in time series based on the cloud database. Agricultural management in data visualization and/or plant growth can be implemented by the data analysis system under whole agricultural sites regardless of various culture environmental changes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Chinese cabbage biosynthesizes various phytochemicals including carotenoids and glucosinolates. Environmental stress has a major effect on the growth and yields of vegetables, and can significantly affect nutritionally important phytochemicals. Phytochemicals of plants are influenced by light, temperature, carbon dioxide, and growing conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various light sources on carotenoid and glucosinolate contents in Chinese cabbage. METHODS AND RESULTS: [Experiment I] Set the control (field control, FC) on the ground. Using acrylic sunlight, experiments were set up transparency box (field transparency, FT), red box (field red, FR) and blue box (field blue, FB). [Experiment II] Set the control (chamber control, CC) in the greenhouse. Using plant growth chamber with artificial light, experiments were set up LED red (chamber red, CR), LED blue (chamber blue, CB), LED mixed red+blue (chamber red+blue, CRB) and fluorescent (chamber fluorescent, CF). After plant growth, Chinese cabbage was harvested at 110 days after sowing (DAS). The status of plants growth (leaf length, width, fresh weight etc.) was immediately investigated. Carotenoid and GSL contents were analyzed by HPLC. [Experiment I] Results documented that the ranges of total carotenoid contents were 25.39 ~ 58.80 mg/kg dry wt for lutein, 0.84~ 4.22 mg/kg dry wt for zeaxanthin, and 3.85~18.71 mg/kg dry wt for ${\beta}$-carotene. Lutein was the highest for the content and the largest for the variation as well. [Experiment II] Results documented that the ranges of total carotenoid contents were 24.66~137.96 for lutein, 2.51~20.65 for zeaxanthin, and 8.40~49.80 mg/kg dry wt for ${\beta}$-carotene. The total carotenoid contents of CR (156.62) and CB (115.90) were 1.6~2.3 times larger than the other treatments, and ${\beta}$-carotene content was about twice as high as that of the other treatments on the CR (38.74 mg/kg dry wt.). [Experiment I] Total GSL content was the highest in FT (19.76) that was higher 1.7 times than the lowest treatment ($11.39{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.). [Experiment II] The total content of GSL was highest in CRB (4.19) and lowest in CF ($2.88{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.). In the CRB, total GSL contents ($4.19{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.) was the highest. CONCLUSION: Total and individual carotenoid and GSL contents in Chinese cabbage show significant differences under different light sources. Red and blue lights contribute to significant carotenoids expression and antioxidant activity for nutrition and health benefits. These results concluded that the introduction of varying lights affected the synthesis of important nutrient compounds in Chinese cabbage. It is predicted that the application of good light source enhances the accumulation of functional compounds.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2020

Recently, it is difficult to produce uniform scions and rootstocks with high quality in a greenhouse due to weather extremes. The closed transplant production system is useful for producing scions and rootstocks with desirable morphological characteristics by environment control regardless of weather outside. In this study, we investigated transpiration rates and growth of cucumber and tomato scions and rootstocks grown under different light intensity conditions for precise irrigation control in a closed transplant production system. Hanging system to measure continuously the weight of plug tray consisting of seedlings and substrate with load-cell was installed in each growing bed. Using this system, we confirmed initial wilting point of cucumber and tomato seedlings, and conducted subirrigation when moisture content of substrate was not below 50%. The irrigation time of cucumber scions and rootstocks were 7 and 6 days after sowing, respectively. In tomato scions and rootstocks grown under PPF (photosynthetic photon flux) 300 μmol·m^-2·s^-1, the irrigation time were 5, 8, 11, and 13 days after sowing. Increasing light intensity increased transpiration rates and differences of transpiration rates by light intensity was higher in tomato seedlings. The growth of cucumber and tomato seedlings was promoted by increasing light intensity, especially, hypocotyl elongation and stem thickening was affected by light intensity. Cumulative transpiration rate of plug tray in cucumber and tomato seedlings was increased by increasing light intensity, and daily transpiration rate per seedling was regressed by 1st-order linear equation with high correlation coefficient. Estimation of transpiration rates by weighing continuously plug tray of vegetable seedlings can be useful to control more accurately irrigation schedule in a closed transplant production system.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.225-236
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Hydroponics is one of the methods for evaluating plant production using the inorganic nutrient solutions, which is applied under the artificial light conditions of plant factory system. However, the application of the conventional inorganic nutrients for hydroponics caused several environmental problems: waste from culture mediums and high nitrate concentration in plants. Organic nutrients are generally irrigated as a supplementary fertilizer for plant growth promotion under field or greenhouse conditions. Hydroponic culture using organic nutrients derived from the agricultural by-products such as dumped stems, leaves or immature fruits is rarely considered in plant factory system. Effect of organic or conventional inorganic nutrient solutions on the growth and nutrient absorption pattern of green and red leaf lettuces was investigated in this experiment under fluorescent lamps (FL) and mixture Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Single solution of tomatoes (TJ) and kales (K) deriving from agricultural by-products including leaves or stems and its mixed solution (mixture ration 1:1) with conventional inorganic Yamazaki (Y) were supplied for hydroponics under the plant factory system. The Yamazaki solution was considered as a control. 'Jeockchima' and 'Cheongchima' lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) were used as plant materials. The seedlings which developed 2~3 true leaves were grown under the light qualities of FL and mixed LED lights of blue plus red plus white of 1:2:1 mixture in energy ratio for 35 days. Light intensity of the light sources was controlled at 180 μmol/㎡/s on the culture bed. The single and mixture nutrient solutions of organic and/or inorganic components which controlled at 1.5 dS/m EC and 5.8 pH were regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Number of unfolded leaves of the seedlings grown under the single or mixed nutrient solutions were significantly increased compared to the conventional Y treatment. Leaf extension of 'Jeockchima' under the mixture LED radiation condition was not affected by Y and YK or YTJ mixture treatments. SPAD value in 'Jeockchima' leaves exposed by FL under the YK mixture medium was approximately 45 % higher than under conventional Y treatment. Otherwise, the maximum SPAD value in the leaves of 'Cheongchima' seedlings was shown in YK treatment under the mixture LED lights. NO₃-N contents in Y treatment treated with inorganic nutrient at the end of the experiment were up to 75% declined rather than increased over 60 % in the K and TJ organic treatment. CONCLUSION: Growth of the seedlings was affected by the mixture treatments of the organic and inorganic solutions, although similar or lower dry weight was recorded than in the inorganic treatment Y under the plant factory system. Treatment Y containing the highest NO₃-N content among the considered nutrients influenced growth increment of the seedlings comparing to the other nutrients. However effect of the higher NO₃-N content in the seedling growth was different according to the light qualities considered in the experiment as shown in leaf expansion, pigmentation or dry weight promotion under the single or mixed nutrients.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.411-417
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• 2017

Environmental and growth factors such as light intensity, vapor pressure deficit, and leaf area index are important variables that can change the transpiration rate of plants. The objective of this study was to compare the transpiration rates estimated by modified Penman-Monteith model and artificial neural network. The transpiration rate of paprika (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Fiesta) was obtained by using the change in substrate weight measured by load cells. Radiation, temperature, relative humidity, and substrate weight were collected every min for 2 months. Since the transpiration rate cannot be accurately estimated with linear equations, a modified Penman-Monteith equation using compensated radiation (Shin et al., 2014) was used. On the other hand, ANN was applied to estimating the transpiration rate. For this purpose, an ANN composed of an input layer using radiation, temperature, relative humidity, leaf area index, and time as input factors and five hidden layers was constructed. The number of perceptons in each hidden layer was 512, which showed the highest accuracy. As a result of validation, $R^2$ values of the modified model and ANN were 0.82 and 0.94, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the ANN can estimate the transpiration rate more accurately than the modified model and can be applied to the efficient irrigation strategy in soilless cultures.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.400-406
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• 2018

In this experiment the effect of supplemental lighting on the growth and yield of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. 'Fresh') plants during low radiation period of winter season were investigated in glasshouses using common high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps and newly developed plasma lighting system (PLS) lamps. Plants grown without supplemental lighting were considered as a control. Supplemental lighting was provided from November 20th, 2015 to March 15th, 2016 to ensure 14-hour photoperiod (natural+supplemental light), also lamps were operated automatically when the outside sun radiation levels were less than $100W{\cdot}m^{-2}$. Spectral analysis showed that HPS lamp had a discrete spectrum, lacked of the radiation in the 400-550 nm wave band (blue-green light), but had a high output in the orange-red region (550-650 nm). A higher red light output resulted in an increased red to far-red (R/FR) ratio in HPS lamp. PLS had a continuous spectrum and had a peak radiation in green region (490-550 nm). HPS has 12.6% lower output in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) but 12.6% higher output in near infra-red (NIR) spectral regions compared to PLS. Both HPS and PLS lamps emitted very low levels of ultra-violet radiation (300-400 nm). Supplemental lighting both from HPS and PLS lamps increased plant height, leaf number, internode number and dry weight of cucumber plants compared to control. Photosynthetic activity of cucumber plants grown under two supplemental lighting systems was comparable. Number of fruits per cucumber plant (fruit weight per plant) in control, PLS, and HPS plots were 21.2 (2.9 kg), 38.7 (5.5 kg), and 40.4 (5.6 kg), respectively, thereby increasing yield by 1.8-1.9 times in comparison with control. An analysis of the economic feasibility of supplemental lighting in cucumber cultivation showed that considering lamp installation and electricity costs the income from supplemental lighting increased by 37% and 62% for PLS and HPS lamps, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.411-422
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• 2012

To investigate the possibility of sustainable agriculture in no-tillage pepper this study was carried out in vinyl greenhouse with organic cultivation having no pesticide certification. 1. Growth and yield in pepper cultivation General growth in pepper was suppressed with decreasing hill spacing, primary branch length, and stem width. Fruit diameter and fruit weight in no-tillage increased significantly, and yield of pepper increased by 10% compared with conventional tillage. From results organic cultivation in no-tillage improved a quality of pepper compared with conventional tillage. 2. Production cost of conventional tillage and no-tillage Production cost of conventional tillage and no-tillage was not different in seed cost, inorganic fertilizer cost, pesticide cost, repair cost, light agricultural tool cost, agriculture facilities depreciation cost and so on. Intermediary goods cost in no-tillage was decreased by 11% for organic fertilizer cost, light and heat expenses and power rate, heavy agricultural tool cost, and repairing expenses compare with conventional tillage. Employment effort cost and work effort cost were decreased, and farm income and farm income rate were increased by 11% and 5%, respectively, in no-tillage. In this work, yield and gross income were increased by 10% and 25%, respectively, in no-tillage. Therefore material cost, intermediary goods cost, working expensive, farm income, and income rate were increased by 34%, 3%, 2%, 52% and 22%, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2015

This experiment was conducted to determined the optimum planting density for the production of high quality bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) adapted in spring cultivation with the unheated greenhouse condition. 'Erave' variety was planted at three different planting densities (235, 305, $380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) on March 26. The training method was six lateral vines with pinching the main one. The light intensity was lower in the higher planting density than the lower one. Net photosynthetic rates of the bitter gourd leaves in the higher density were significantly lower (41 to 71%) than the lower one. There was no difference in the fruit characteristics among treatments. But the root weight was heavier in the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) as 113.1g than 96.0g of the higher planting density ($380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). The number of the harvested fruit also higher in the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) with 60.7 than 39.9 of the higher planting density ($380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). The average fruit weight was the highest in the plot of $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ as 338.7g and lowest in the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) as 285.2g. The total yield of $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ density was $5,359kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$, which was higher than $4,068kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ of the lower planting density ($235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). Marketable yield was increased by 24% in the planting density of $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$($4,767kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) as compared to the lower density in $235plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$($3,629kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$) and increased by 13% in the planting density as $380plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$($4,137kg{\cdot}10a^{-1}$). Therefore, the planting density of bitter gourd was desirable in $305plants{\cdot}10a^{-1}$ density for the higher yield and quality in the protected cultivation.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.459-464
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• 2001

Leaf disks from cultivar 'Kennebec' and one selection line (ND 860-2) were cultured on Murashige-Skoog medium with various combinations of indole acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside. Shoots, roots and callus were induced at various combinations of plant growth regulator levels. The medium containing $3.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ IAA and $4.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ zeatin riboside produced the most plantlets. Rooted regenerants were grown in the greenhouse. The growth of regenerated plants obtained from the MS medium supplemented with $7.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ IAA and $3.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ zeatin riboside was significantly greater than those grown from nodal expalnts. In ND 860-2, a leaf chimera with chlorophyll deficient (light yellow) sectors was found in plants regenerated fiom leaf disks (grown on MS medium supplemented with $3.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ IAA and $3.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ zeatin riboside) but not in plants grown from nodal explants. The phenotypic variability was also observed in the tuber number, size and weight.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Recently, the government has been working feverously to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emission by enacting Basic Act on Low Carbon Green Growth at the national level. Improving the insulation performance of building exterior and insulator can reduce the energy in the building sector. This study is about developing light-weight foamed concrete insulation panel that can be applied to buildings to save energy and to find the optimal condition for the development of insulation materials that can save energy by enhancing its physical, kinetic and thermal characteristics. Various experimental factors and conditions were considered in the study such as foam agent types (AES=Alcohol Ethoxy Sulfate, AOS=Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate, VS=Vegetable Soap, FP=Fe-Protein), foam agent dilution concentration (1, 3, 5%), and foam percentage (30, 50, 70%). Experiment results indicated that the surface tension of aqueous solution including foam agent, was lower when AOS was used over other foam agents. FP produced relatively stable foams in 3% or more, which produced unstable foams containing high water content and low surface tension when diluted at low concentration. Depending on foam agent types, compressive strength and thermal conductivity were similar at low density range but showed some differences at high concentration range. In addition, when concentrations of foam agent and foaming ratio increased, pore size increased and open pores are formed. In all types of foam agent, thermal conductivity were excellent, satisfying KS standards. The most outstanding performance for insulation panel was obtained when FP 3% was used.