• Title/Summary/Keyword: Non-conventional agriculture

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Fibrolytic Rumen Bacteria: Their Ecology and Functions

  • Koike, Satoshi;Kobayashi, Yasuo
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.131-138
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    • 2009
  • Among rumen microbes, bacteria play important roles in the biological degradation of plant fiber due to their large biomass and high activity. To maximize the utilization of fiber components such as cellulose and hemicellulose by ruminant animals, the ecology and functions of rumen bacteria should be understood in detail. Recent genome sequencing analyses of representative fibrolytic bacterial species revealed that the number and variety of enzymes for plant fiber digestion clearly differ between Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens. Therefore, the mechanism of plant fiber digestion is also thought to differ between these two species. Ecology of individual fibrolytic bacterial species has been investigated using pure cultures and electron microscopy. Recent advances in molecular biology techniques complement the disadvantages of conventional techniques and allow accurate evaluation of the ecology of specific bacteria in mixed culture, even in situ and in vivo. Molecular monitoring of fibrolytic bacterial species in the rumen indicated the predominance of F. succinogenes. Nutritive interactions between fibrolytic and non-fibrolytic bacteria are important in maintaining and promoting fibrolytic activity, mainly in terms of crossfeeding of metabolites. Recent 16S rDNA-based analyses suggest that presently recognized fibrolytic species such as F. succinogenes and two Ruminococcus species with fibrolytic activity may represent only a small proportion of the total fibrolytic population and that uncultured bacteria may be responsible for fiber digestion in the rumen. Therefore, characterization of these unidentified bacteria is important to fully understand the physiology and ecology of fiber digestion. To achieve this, a combination of conventional and modern techniques could be useful.

Yield of Rice, Analysis of Economics and Environmental Impact in Duck-Paddy Rice (오리제초 수도작의 벼 수량, 경제성 및 환경친화성 평가)

  • 손상목;김영호;임경수
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.45-71
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    • 2001
  • The duck-rice forming system is increasingly spread up throughout Korea since 1992. It is discussed the rice field, rice quality, weed and pest management in the duck-rice weeding system compared to conventional farming system. Moreover the optimizing duck population, system management and fertilizer application rate were reported. Energy input and output by duck-rice farming system were carefully compared with those of low input sustainable paddy field and conventional farming paddy field. To find out the environmentally sound function of duck-rice system, the total nitrogen in paddy soil and paddy water, and nitrogen cycle in paddy rice cultivation system were analysed. finally the input and output were calculated, and ecological characteristic were determined in terms of nitrogen balance, labor input, animal input, renewable energy input, turnover of soil organic matter, energy loss, non-renewable indirect and direct energy input. It was concluded duck-rice weeding system could be recommended in terms of net only environmentally sound, but also farmer's income. But there are still some research needs for successful adaption of duck-rice farming to investigate to determine the optimal population of duck in rice paddy field unit, release time of duckling, duck management after release, and strategy for duck marketing and duck processing.

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Current Status of Pest Management and Biodiversity in Organic Pear Orchards in Korea (배 유기재배 과수원의 병해충 관리 실태 및 생물 다양성)

  • Song, Jang-Hoon;Lim, Kyeong-Ho;Cho, Young-Sik;Lee, Han-Chan
    • Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.617-627
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    • 2013
  • This study was conducted to survey the current pest occurrence and grower's pest management practices, and to investigate biodiversity including birds, snakes, rodents, and amphibians in organic pear orchards. From the questionnaires and field survey of 22 organic orchards in 2010, the materials such as lime sulphur, plant extracts and their mixtures with microorganisms, and oils were preferred over insecticides. Scab, mealybugs, woollybugs and barkminers were the major pests for organic pear growers. Environment-friendly fungicides and insecticides were applied 9 to 10 and 5 to 6 times respectively. Incidence and severity of scab on Niitaka pear fruits in organic orchards was higher than in conventional ones. Whereas for mealybugs there was no significant difference between organic and conventional orchards. Pear fruits in organic orchards were significantly smaller than those of non-organic orchards. For the biodiversity of amphibians, snakes, pheasants, and rodents, there was no significant difference between organic and conventional orchards, but Rufous turtle doves were monitored more in organic areas than in conventional ones.

Effect of Root Zone Cooling on Growth Responses and Tuberization of Hydroponically Grown 'Superior' Potato (Solanum tuberosum) in Summer

  • Chang, Dong-Chil;Jeong, Jin-Cheol;Lee, Yong-Beom
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.340-345
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    • 2006
  • A potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Superior) cultivar was grown in aeroponic cultivation system to investigate the effect of root zone cooling in summer. Based on their nutrient uptake, growth responses, and tuberization, the possibilities for potato seed production were determined. Although shoot growth and early tuberization increased in the conventional non-cooling root zone system (root zone temperature of $25\pm2^{\circ}C$), stolen growth, photosynthesis, transpiration rate and number of tubers produced were higher in the cooling root zone system ($20\pm2^{\circ}C$) than in the non-cooling system. Increasing root zone temperature above $25^{\circ}C$ stimulated absorption of K more than T-N, P, Ca, Fe and Mn. On the other hand, root zone temperatures in the range of $20^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$ did not affect Mg contents. The lower uptake and supply to leaves of T-N, Fe and Mn at the high root zone temperature promoted early tuberization and advanced haulm senescence. The results stress the importance of keeping root zone temperature to as low as below 20, particularly in summer under temperate Bone.

Growth, quality, and yield characteristics of transgenic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) overexpressing StMyb1R-1 under water deficit

  • Im, Ju-Sung;Cho, Kwang-Soo;Cho, Ji-Hong;Park, Young-Eun;Cheun, Chung-Gi;Kim, Hyun-Jun;Cho, Hyun-Mook;Lee, Jong-Nam;Jin, Yong-Ik;Byun, Myung-Ok;Kim, Dool-Yi;Kim, Myeong-Jun
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.154-162
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    • 2012
  • This study was conducted to evaluate agronomic characteristics such as growth, quality, and yields of StMyb1R-1 transgenic potato and also to obtain the basic data for establishing assessment guidelines of transgenic potato. Three transgenic lines (Myb 1, Myb 2, and Myb 8) were cultivated under conventional irrigation, drought condition, and severe drought condition and were analyzed by comparing with wild type, non-transgenic cv. Superior. Myb 2 showed a different flower color from wild type and Myb 1 had much bigger secondary leaflets than wild type. Myb 1 and Myb 2 showed higher $P_2O_5$ content in both top and root zone and longer shaped tubers than wild type. In yield factors, transgenic lines had more tubers than wild type, however their yield decreases were severe because of the poor enlargement of tuber under water deficit condition. This tendency was noticeable in Myb 1 and Myb 2. In TR ratio, chlorophyll content, dry matter rate, and relative water content, there were no big differences between transgenic lines and wild type. Meanwhile, in phenotype, growth, quality, and yield factors, substantial equivalent was confirmed between Myb 8 and wild type. Then, Myb 8 showed the highest marketable tuber yield under conventional irrigation, while showed lower level than wild type under water deficit. Judged by this result, the enhancing droughttolerance by StMyb1R-1 gene might actually not mean the enhancement of photosynthesis or starch accumulation in tuber and, furthermore, not the yield improvement. More detailed research will be required to accurately understand the relationship between StMyb1R-1 and yield factors.

Effect of Apex Removal at Different Leaf Ages on the Growth and Yield of Broccoli. (엽령이 다른시기의 생장점 제거가 브로콜리의 생육 및 수량에 미치는 영향)

  • Seong, Ki-Cheol;Lee, Jae-Wook;Kwon, Hyeog-Mo;Moon, Doo-Yong;Kim, Chun-Hwan
    • Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.21-25
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    • 2004
  • This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of apex removal at different leaf ages on the growth and yield of broccoli in pinching cultivation. Apex was pinched when 2, 3 or 4 true leaves were spread during nursery bed, and non-pinching was conventional method. The plant height was not different among treatments but the fresh weight was decreased as the pinching days were delayed. The numbers of leaves and lateral shoots were increased compared to those of non-pinching by pinching. Days to central budding were shortended by 3 days when pinched at 2 true leaves spreading stage than those of non-pinching. Central (1st) head weight was heaviest when pinched at the time of 2 true leaves spreading (157g). Total head weight was heaviest when pinched at the time of 2 true leaves spreading (378g), and lowest at 4 true leaves spreading stage (196g). Marketable yields were increased by 48% when pinched at the time of 2 true leaves spreading (1,754kg) as compared with those of non-pinching (1,184kg) and lowest when pinched at the time of 4 true leaves spreading (820kg). Also, first harvest was shortended by 6 days by pinching at 2 true leaves spreading stage.

Evaluation of Sequential Extraction Techniques for Selected Heavy Metal Speciation in Contaminated Soils

  • Lee, Jin-Ho;Doolittle, James J.;Oh, Byung-Taek
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.236-246
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    • 2006
  • In this study, we give insight into questionable results that can be encountered in the conventional sequential extraction of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, and Zn) from soils. Objectives of this study were to determine the extraction variability of exchangeable (EXC)-metals as using six different EXC-extractants commonly accepted, and to investigate selectivity problems with carbonates bound (CAB)-metal fraction, a buffered acetate (1.0 M NaOAc; pH 5.0) extractable-metal fraction, leading to erratic results in especially non-calcareous soils. The contents of EXC-metals were markedly varied with the different extractability of various EXC-metal extractants used. The contents of EXC-Cd fraction were ranged from 2.0 to 74.3% of total Cd content in all of the metal spiked soils studied. The contents of EXC-Zn fraction extracted with the different EXC-extractants were varied with soil types, which were from 0.4 to 3.9% of total Zn in the calcareous soils, from 7.6 to 17.9% in the acidic soil, and from 13.6 to 56.8% in the peat soil. However, the contents of EXC-Cu fraction were relatively similar among the applications of different EXC-meal extractants, 0.2 to 2.1 % of total Cu, in all soils tested. Also, these varied amounts of EXC-metal fractions, especially Cd and Zn, seriously impacted the contents of subsequent metal fractions in the procedure. Furthermore, the CAB-Cd, -Cu, and -Zn fractions extracted by the buffered acetate solution were in critical problem. That is, the buffered acetate solution dissolved not only CAB-metals but also metals that bound or occupied to subsequent fractions, especially OXD-metal fraction, in both calcareous and non-calcareous soils. The erratic results of CAB-fraction also seriously impacted the amounts of subsequent metal fractions. Therefore, the conventional sequential extraction should be reconsidered theoretically and experimentally to quantify the target metal fractions or might be progressively discarded.

Effects of Developed Grape Bag on the Physiological Disorders, Pathogenic Decay and Fruit Quality in 'Campbell Early' Grapevines (개발된 포도 봉지 괘대가 '캠벨얼리' 과실의 생리장해와 병 발생 및 품질에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Y.C.;Moon, B.W.;Kim, M.S.
    • Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.81-89
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    • 2004
  • The effects of developed grape bags on the micro-climate changes of bag, physiological disorder, pathogenic decay, quality and harvest time evaluation in 'Campbell Early' grapevines were studied. The temperature and light transmittance of developed grape bags showed no differences compared with the onces of conventional bag and non-bagging, but relative humidity and the amount of water evaporation were changed in all treatments. The occurrence of unfertilized fruit, poorly colored fruit, russet and gray mold rot showed no significant difference in all treatment at harvest time. Developed grape bags decreased effectively the occurrence of cracking fruit and bitter rot in 'Campbell Early' fruit. There was no difference in growth of cluster and berry, soluble solids and total acidity in fruits, degree of skin color and bloom appearance at harvest time. The skin color and fruit boom and harvest time evaluation in developed grape bags were resulted excellent compared with the once of conventional bag and non bagging.

Effect of Tillage System and Fertilization Method on Biological Activities in Soil under Soybean Cultivation (경운방법과 시비방법이 콩 재배 토양의 생물학적 활성에 미치는 영향)

  • Oh, Eun-Ji;Park, Ji-Su;Yoo, Jin;Kim, Suk-Jin;Woo, Sun-Hee;Chung, Keun-Yook
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.223-229
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    • 2017
  • BACKGROUND: Tillage systems and fertilization play an important role in crop growth and soil improvement. This study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and fertilization on the microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity of soils in a field under cultivation of soybean. METHODS AND RESULTS: An experimental plot, located in the temperate climate zone, was composed of two main sectors that were no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and they were subdivided into four plots, respectively, in accordance with types of fertilizers (non fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, hairy vetch, and liquid pig manure). Microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity were evaluated from May to July in 2016. The microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity of NT soils were significantly higher than those of CT in all fertilizer treatments, and they were further increased in hairy vetch treatment than the other fertilizer treatments in both NT and CT. The dehydrogenase activity was closely related to microbial biomass C. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that application of green manure combined with no-tillage can provide viable management practices for enhancing microbial properties of soil.

Soil Microbial Community Assessment for the Rhizosphere Soil of Herbicide Resistant Genetically Modified Chinese Cabbage

  • Sohn, Soo-In;Oh, Young-Ju;Ahn, Byung-Ohg;Ryu, Tae-Hoon;Cho, Hyun-Suk;Park, Jong-Sug;Lee, Ki-Jong;Oh, Sung-Dug;Lee, Jang-Yong
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.52-59
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    • 2012
  • BACKGROUND: Cultivation of genetically modified(GM) crops rapidly has increased in the global agricultural area. Among those, herbicide resistant GM crops are reported to have occupied 89.3 million hectares in 2010. However, cultivation of GM crops in the field evoked the concern of the possibility of gene transfer from transgenic plant into soil microorganisms. In our present study, we have assessed the effects of herbicide-resistant GM Chinese cabbage on the surrounding soil microbial community. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of a herbicide-resistant genetically modified (GM) Chinese cabbage on the soil microbial community in its field of growth were assessed using a conventional culture technique and also culture-independent molecular methods. Three replicate field plots were planted with a single GM and four non-GM Chinese cabbages (these included a non-GM counterpart). The soils around these plants were compared using colony counting, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and a species diversity index assessment during the growing periods. The bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes population densities of the GM Chinese cabbage soils were found to be within the range of those of the non-GM Chinese cabbage soils. The DGGE banding patterns of the GM and non-GM soils were also similar, suggesting that the bacterial community structures were stable within a given month and were unaffected by the presence of a GM plant. The similarities of the bacterial species diversity indices were consistent with this finding. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that soil microbial communities are unaffected by the cultivation of herbicide-resistant GM Chinese cabbage within the experimental time frame.