• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: The carbon (C) isotope ratio (${\delta}^{13}C$) of dissolved organic C (DOC) is an indicator of water pollution source. In this study, the potential use of two pre-treatments for the ${\delta}^{13}C$ analysis, alkaline persulfate oxidation coupled with carbonate precipitation (precipitation) and freeze drying (drying), were compared to suggest a more feasible pre-treatment method. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two reference materials with different ${\delta}^{13}C$ values were used for the experiments; chemical grade glucose ($-12.0{\pm}0.02$‰) and pig manure compost extract ($-23.3{\pm}0.04$‰). In the precipitation method, the measured ${\delta}^{13}C$ values were consistently lower than the theoretically calculated values as dissolved $CO_2$ could not be removed due to the alkaline property of the reagents and the dissolution of air $CO_2$ into the alkaline solution. The drying method also resulted in more negative ${\delta}^{13}C$ than the calculated ${\delta}^{13}C$; however, the difference was systematic ($3.9{\pm}0.3$‰) and there was a strong correlation (${\delta}^{13}C_{calculated}=0.87{\times}{\delta}^{13}C_{measured}-0.624$, $r^2=0.98$) between the calculated and measured ${\delta}^{13}C$. Calibration of ${\delta}^{13}C$ using the relationship between the calculated and the measured ${\delta}^{13}C$ values produced reliable and accurate ${\delta}^{13}C$ values. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the drying method is more accurate pre-treatment method to minimize the influence of air $CO_2$ compared to the precipitation method for the determination of ${\delta}^{13}C$ of DOC.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.875-886
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• 2015

The upland soils (56 samples) from organic farms in Gyeonggi-do (12 sites), Gangwon-do (8 sites), Chungcheong-do (14 sites), Gyeongsang-do (4 sites), Jeollado (18 sites) in Korea were collected and their physical and chemical properties were analyzed by RDA's methods. In the results of physical property, the bulk density of soils averaged $1.14Mgm^{-3}$ (surface soil), $1.38Mgm^{-3}$ (subsoil), respectively. The porosity of them was 57%, 48%. Organically managed soil's (OS) bulk density was lower than conventional soil's but OS's porosity was a little higher than conventionally managed soil in surface soil. The depth of plough layer in organically managed soils was 21.2 cm indicating that the organic farming had good effect on soil physical property. In the results of chemical property, the surface soil pH was 6.9 and the contents of organic matter (OM) was $26gkg^{-1}$, available phosphate (Avail. $P_2O_5$) was $554mgkg^{-1}$, exchangeable calcium (Exch. Ca) was $8.9cmol_ckg^{-1}$, exchangeable potassium (Exch. K) was $0.89cmol_ckg^{-1}$, exchangeable magnesium (Exch. Mg) was $2.0cmol_ckg^{-1}$. The subsoil pH was 6.8 and the contents of OM was $21gkg^{-1}$, avail. $P_2O_5$ was $491mgkg^{-1}$, exch. Ca was $7.9cmol_ckg^{-1}$, exch. K was $0.68cmol_ckg^{-1}$, exch. Mg was $1.8cmol_ckg^{-1}$. The nutrient accumulation emerged in organic farming. Compared to the optimum nutrient range for the conventional upland soils, the exceed rate of pH, OM, available phosphate, and exchangeable Ca, K, and Mg was 79, 52, 64, 84, 66% and 55%, respectively, which mainly resulted from the over-application of lime materials or livestock manure compost. With these results it is suggested that organic farm need to reduce the use of inputs, which make soil alkalification or nutrient accumulation. More study on effects of inputs on lowering soil pH from alkalification could help organically managed soil to be improved.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.4
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• pp.128-141
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• 2022

Baengnyeongdo Island, which belongs to Ongjin-gun, Incheon, is an island in the northernmost part of the West Sea in South Korea. Baengnyeong Island is the 15th largest island in Korea and covers an area of 51 km². The Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC) investigated the possibility of growing ginseng on Baengnyeong Island in 1996. In 1997, thanks to the support of cultivation costs from Ongjin-gun, the first ginseng seedbed was built on Baengnyeong Island. In 1999, the seedlings were transplanted to a permanent field under a contract with KGC. In 2003, the first six-year-old ginseng harvest was performed, and KGC purchased all production according to the contract. Since then, KGC has signed on to grow ginseng until 2012 and purchased six-year-old ginseng until the fall of 2016. Since 2014, the GimpoPaju Ginseng Agricultural Cooperative Association has signed a ginseng production contract. According to a survey of nine 6-year-old ginseng fields (total 5,961 units) on Baengnyeong Island, the top five with good growth had a survival rate of 42.6 to 68%, and the bottom four with poor growth had an extremely low survival rate of 11.1 to 21.3%. The four fields with low survival rates were where hot peppers were planted before ginseng cultivation. It is believed that the excess nitrogen remaining in the soil due to the treatment of compost or manure during pepper cultivation causes ginseng roots to rot. The average incidence of Alternaria blight was 8.6%. Six six-year-old ginseng gardens were low at 1.1 to 4.7%, while the other three were high at 16.7 to 20.9%. It is assumed that the reason for the low survival rate and high incidence of Alternaria blight is a rain-leaking shield. Farmers used rain-leaking shields because the precipitation on Baengnyeong Island was smaller than on land. One field showed 3% of leaves with yellowish brown spots, a symptom of physiological disturbance of the leaf, which is presumed to be due to the excessive presence of iron in the soil. To increase the production of ginseng on Baengnyeong Island, it is necessary to develop a suitable ginseng cultivation method for the island, such as strengthening the field management based on the results of a scientific study of soil, using rain-resistant shading, and installing drip irrigation facilities. I hope that ginseng will become a new driving force for the development of Baengnyeong Island, allowing ginseng products and food to thrive in the beautiful natural environment of the island.