• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.583-586
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• 1998

Porous ceramic cups are used for monitoring ion concentration in soil solutions in various time course and depth. A soil solution sampler was constructed in laboratory by inserting pliable perfluoroalkoxy(PFA) tubings into porous cup through holes in PVC rod segment which plugged top opening of the porous cup. The system was installed in drip irrigated soil in a vertical position, and nitrogen movement below the drip basin was monitored. To collect soil solution, vacuum in the cup was applied with a hand vacuum pump. The samples obtained were sufficient enough to run quantitative analyses for a number of chemicals. Nitrogen transformation and movement could be well defined, and the system seemed to be relevant to the other soil solution samplers in monitoring chemical movement in soil. Although this system has general deficiencies found in the other samplers using ceramic cup, it could be easily constructed at a low cost. Since the tubing was pliable, the cups could be installed in horizontal position, and this allows installations of the cups at more precise depth increments and also more precise samplings of soil solution at each depth.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.448-454
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• 2007

This study was conducted to develop a 100 kPa soil tensiometer mainly consisted of a porous ceramic cup, water-holding tube, and a digital vacuum gauge, through theoretical design analysis and experimental performance evaluation. Major findings were as follows. 1. Theoretical analysis showed that air entry value of a porous media decreased as the maximum effective size of the pore increased, and the maximum diameter of the pores was $2.9\;{\mu}m$ for measuring up a 100 kPa of soil-water tension. 2. Property analysis of tensiometer porous cups supplied in Korean domestic market indicated that main components were $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ with a porosity range of $33.8{\sim}49.3%$. 3. The porous cup selected through sample fabrication and air-permeability tests showed weight ratios of 87% and 11% for $Al_2O_3$ and $SiO_2$. The analysis of SEM (scanning electron microscope) images showed that the sample was sintered at temperatures of about $1150^{\circ}C$, which consisted of pores with sizes of up to 25% of those for commercial porous cups. 4. The prototype soil tensiometer was fabricated using the developed porous cup and a digital vacuum gauge that could measure water tension with a pressure of 85 kPa in air tests. 5. In-soil tests of the prototype conducted during a period of 25-day drying showed that soil-water tension values measured with the prototype and commercial units were not significantly different, and soil-water characteristic curves could be established for different soils, confirming accuracy and stability of the prototype.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.399-404
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• 2014

Soil moisture is an important factor for the availability and circulation of nutrients in arable soil. The purpose of this study was to set thresholds moisture content on soil nitrate concentration in the solution for real-time diagnosis. Sandy loam, silt loam, and sandy loam was filled with $1.2g\;cm^{-3}$ at Wagner pots, 0, 100, and $200mg\;L^{-1}$ of $KNO_3$ was saturated. Nitrate in standard solution was recovered about 95% by passing the porous cup. Nitrate concentrations in sampling of soil solution were examined by using a porous cup. The soil solution was higher in accordance with sandy loam> silt loam> clay loam, limited water filled pore space for sampling soil solution was 33.7, 56.4, and 62.2%, respectively. Nitrate concentration in the soil solution was negligible at sandy loam and silt loam during sampling periods, which was decreased about 50~82% in clay loam compared to the initial $NO_3$-N concentration in the saturated $KNO_3$ solution. Over limitation of soil solution sampling, soil EC and $NO_3$-N content were increased with the saturated $NO_3$-N concentration, regardless of soil texture (p<0.05). Conclusively, soil solution by using a porous cup was possible, regardless of the soil texture, which was useful for the diagnosis in nitrate concentration of soil solution. However, because nitrate concentration of soil solution in a clay loam changes, it was necessary for careful attention in order to take advantage for the real-time diagnosis of nitrogen management in soil.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.316-325
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• 2001

To develope a technique for efficiently managing fertilizer for cucumber, a quick test method to quantify nitrate content in soil solution and leaf petiole juice using a simple instrument was investigated. Among the nitrate analyzing instruments such as compact ion meter, nitrate ion meter, and test strip with reflectometer, the paper test-strip used in conjunction with a hand-held reflectometer was most closely correlated with ion chromatography method in nitrate content, and then it would be suggested with a tool that a farmer can use rapidly, conveniently and accurately for nitrate analysis in a field. Nitrate content in soil solution collected by porous cup was very variable on the lapsed time after drip irrigation and the sampling positions such as soil depth and the distance from dripper. As a result, a significant correlation between nitrate contents of soil solutions and 2M KCl soil extract was not found. However, nitrate content in soil solution extracted with a volume basis (soil:water=1:2) showed the highly significant correlation with that in 2M KCl extract. Nitrate contents of cucumber leaf petiole juices was greatly different between upper and lower leaves. Eleven to sixteen positioned-leaf would be a proper sampling position to determine nitrate content in leaf petiole for evaluating nutrient state by plant tissue analysis. From the secondary regression equations between nitrate contents of soil and petiole juice and the yield of cucumber, nitrate levels for real time diagnosis were estimated as $400mg\;l^{-1}$ soil solution by porous cup. $300mg\;l^{-1}$ in a soil volume extraction, and $1400mg\;l^{-1}$ in petiole juice from spring to summer season. In addition, the maximum yield of cucumber fruit in pot test was obtained in nitrate $1500mg\;l^{-1}$ level of petiole juice, which was similar to nitrate $1400mg\;l^{-1}$ in greenhouse trial.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.11
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• pp.34-38
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• 1995

Using a 3-D finite element method (FEM), the biomechanical characteristics of a threaded truncated acetabular component and a porous coated hemispherical acetabular component were studied. The Von-Mises stress/strain patterns in the acetabulum reconstructed with these two different types of cementless acetabular cups were investigated. The geometry and dimensions of human hemi-pelvis used in the present shape modeling for finite element analysis were scanned with a 3-D laser scanner(TDS-9000, Cyberware, USA). The scanned data was numerically handled with a shape modelling software 'Pro-Engineer'. Using 19836, 16853 tetrahedral elements, respectively, the stress and displacement field of the acetabulum reconstructed with the two different types of the acetabular components were computed. While the hemi-sphere component was found to show a relatively similar stress/strain patterns to those in the normal hip, the results with the threaded cup showed a considerably different patterns from those in the normal condition. Several regions in cancellous bone near the threads and the edge of the truncated cup was found to be overstressed, especially in the superior-lateral part of the acetabulum. It was postulated that the excessive reaming-out of subchondral bone layer when the truncated cup was used can cause the presence of these overstressed regions of cancellous bone. This theoretical prediction for the implanted acetabulum appeared to consistent with the pathological observation of proximal/medial migration of the threaded truncated acetabular prostheses in the previous publications.

• KCID journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2002

Changes of concentrations and losses of nutrient via infiltration from paddy plot during rice cultivation were monitored. The infiltrated water samples were collected in a ceramic porous cup which was buried at the depth of 30,50,70, and 90cm beneath the

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 1995

This study was conducted to obtain quantitative data on the behavior of surface-applied urea to a paddy field which would help to protect against environmental pollution as well as to increase the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer. The percolating water samples were collected with porous ceramic cups installed at 25, 50 and 75cm depths in a paddy field during the rice growing season(June 1992-September 1992) and analyzed for urea-N. NHAN and $NO_3-N$. In the paddy field to which urea fertilizer was applied at the rates of 12 and 24kg N/10a, the surface-applied urea was detected even at 75cm depth as the form of urea-N upto 12days after application. The maximum concentrations of urea-N in the percolating water sampled at 25, 50 and 75cm depths were the same irrespective of soil depth and the values were 0.06 and $0.12{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for the application rates of 12 and 24kg N/10a respectively. The concentrations of $NH_4-N$ gradually decreased with time during the vegetative growth period : thereafter. the concentrations remained nearly constant. The maximum concentrations of $NH_4-N$ at 25cm depth were 1.2 and $5.6{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for 12 and 24kg N/10a rate respectively. The $NO_3-N$ concentrations of percolating water ranged 0.1~0.5 and $0.2{\sim}0.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for urea application rates of 12 and 24kg N/10a respectively. The nitrate concentration data suggest that nitrification process occurred continuously in paddy field during the rice growing season.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.268-273
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• 1998

Changes of chemical component and losses of chemical fertilizer by infiltration water from 0.5ha of paddy field in Chinan area of Chonbuk province during the rice cultivation were investigated. The infiltration water samples were collected in a ceramic porous cup which was a buried at the 30, 50, 70, 90㎝ of soil depth. pH of infiltration water ranged $6.64{\sim}7.90$ and EC showed $324{\sim}647{\mu}$S/cm. The content of total-N, $NH_4-N$ and $NO_3-N$ were $0.58{\sim}14.59$, $0.05{\sim}4.25$, and $0.15{\sim}7.71mg/L$ respectively. The content of total-P and ortho-P were $0.009{\sim}0.077mg/L$ and $0{\sim}0.029mg/L$ The content of $Ca^{++}$, $Mg^{++}$, $Na^{+}$ and $K^{+}$ showed $0.88{\sim}4.78$, $0.22{\sim}1.04$, $0.17{\sim}0.98$, and $0.84{\sim}3.19㎎/L$. These all at the first transplanting are higher than that of other periods. The content of $SO_4^{2-}$ showed $3.92{\sim}18.72mg/L$ and decreased with a soil depth. However $Cl^-$ of infiltration water ranged $9.03{\sim}19.97mg/L$ and no difference with a soil depth. When infiltrated $2,416.5m^{3}$ of an infiltration water from 0.5ha of paddy field during the rice cultivation, losses of chemical components were 20.34㎏/㏊ of total-N, 3.54㎏/㏊ of $NH_4-N$, 10.44㎏/㏊ of $NO_3-N$, 0.16㎏/㏊ of total-P and 0.028㎏/㏊ of ortho-P. Also $Ca^{++}$, $Mg^{++}$, $Na^+$, $K^+$, $SO_4^{2-}$ and $Cl^-$ were lost 10.24, 2.84, 2.84, 7.22, 50.04 and 62.20㎏/㏊ respectively. There were lost by infiltration water 9.35% of nitrogen, 0.59% of phosphorous and 22.79% of potassium in applied chemical fertilizer.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 1997

To find out the influence of different rice varieties on the emission of methane in the soil and the exudation of carbohydrates from root, the experiment was conducted on a fine silty, mesic family of Aeric Fluventinc Haplaquepts (Jeonbug series). The varities of rise involved one early maturing variety of Japonica type(namweon) and three mid-to-late maturing varieties of Japonica type and one mid-to-late variety of Indica${\times}$Japonica crossed. The methane flux over the rice canopy was measured according to the closed chamber method modified by Shin and the methane concentration in the soil was measured using porous cup installed in the soil. The carbohydrate exudates from root were measured under nutrient solution culture. It was found that the methane flux tended to be lower in early maturing varieties than in the mid-to-late maturing varieties, lower in indica${\times}$Japonica crossed variety than in Japonica type varieties. There was positive correlation between the number of tillers and the weight of roots of rice plant and methane flux. The correlation, however, tended to be greater between the weight of roots and methane flux. There was no significant difference in the concentration of methane in the soil under different varieties of rice, excepting one variety, Kehwa under which methane concentration was highest. In case of carbohydrate exudation, early maturing variety tended to be higher than other varieties, although the opposite was the case in methane flux.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2013

Maintenance of adequate soil tension or content during the period of crop growth is necessary to support optimum plant growth and yields. A better understanding of soil tension and content for precision irrigation would allow optimal soil water condition to crops and minimize the adverse effects of water stress on crop growth and development. This research reports on a comparison of soil water tension and content variations in differently textured soils over time under drip irrigation using two different water management methods, i.e. pulse time and required water irrigation methods. The pulse time-based irrigation was performed by turning the solenoid valve on and off for preset times to allow the wetting front to disperse in root zone before additional water was applied. The required water estimation method was a new water control logic designed by Rural Development Administration that applies the amount of water required based on a conversion of the measured water tension into water content. The use of the pulse time irrigation method under drip irrigation at a high tension of -20 kPa and high temperatures over $30^{\circ}C$ was not successful at maintaining moisture tensions within an appropriate range of 5 kPa because the preset irrigation times used for water control could not compensate for the change in evapotranspiration during day and night. The response time and pattern of water contents for all of the tested soils measured with capacitance-based sensor probes were faster and more direct than those of water tensions measured with porous and ceramic cup-based tensiometers when water was applied, indicating water content would be a better control variable for automatic irrigation. The required water estimation-based irrigation method provided relatively stable control of moisture tension, even though somewhat lower tension values were obtained as compared to the target tension of -20 kPa, indicating that growers could expect to be effective in controlling low tensions ranging from -10 to -20 kPa with the required water estimation system.