• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 2004

In this review, we present the results of our ten years of study on beef cattle production as a means of preserving phytodiversity and landscape in the semi-natural grasslands of the Aso region of Japan. There are about 16,000 ha of semi-natural grasslands in the region. The grasslands are maintained for animal production through such activities as grazing, mowing, and controlled burning. The Shannon's diversity index values, as measured in the present study, were higher in the grazed sites than in the abandoned sites. The grazing activities thus seem to create suitable habitats for coexisting herbaceous species. The grassland grazed moderately over a long term was able to sustain more animals than the grassland unused over a long term.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 1997

This study was performed to find out the mineral cycles of sulphur in dynamic grassland ecosystems in a steady state condition at the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The experimental results may be summarized on the communities of a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sinensis as follows. As compared with some properties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, sulphur war greater quantity in a Miscanthus sinensis than in a Zoysia japonica on Mt. Kwanak . For the case of steady production and release, the raion of annual mineral production to the amount accumulated on the top of mineral soil in a steady state provides the estimates of release constant k. The release constants on sulphur of the litter were 0.54 in a Zoysia japonica and 0.36 in a Miscanthus sinensis grassland. The half times of S required for the release or accumulation of the litter on the grassland were 1.28 years in a Zoysia japonica and 1.93 years in a Miscauthus sinensis The amounts of annual cycles for sulphur in the grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 20.65g /$m^2$ in a Zoysia japonica and 26.28g /$m^2$ in a Miacanthus sinensis grassland. Key words: Zoysia japonica Miscanthus sinensis Mt. Kwanak, Sulphur, Mineral cycles.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.105-115
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• 1996

To find out the mineral cycles of calcium, magnesium and sodium in dynamic grassland cosystems in a steady state condition, this investigation was conducted along the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The experimental results may he suromarized on the communities of a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sinesis as follows. As compared with some properties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, cal- cium (Ca) was greater quantity in a Zoysia japonica, whereas, in a Miscanthus sicensis, sodium (Na)and magnesium (Mg) were greater in Mt. Kwanak. For the case of steady production and release, the ratio of annual mineral production to the amount accumulated on the top of mineral soil in a steady state provides the estimates of release constant k. The release constants of Ca, Mg and Na of the litter were 0.42, 0.25 and 0.29 in the Zoysia japonica grassland, and were 0.41, 0.54 arid 0.62 in the Miscanthus sinensis grassland, respect- ively. The half times of Ca, Mg and Na required for the release or accumulation of the litter on the grassland were 1.65, 2.77 and 2.39 in the Zoysia japonica, and were 1.69, 1.28 and 1.12 in the Miscauthus sinensis, respectively. The increasing order of the turnover parameters of the elements was Ca, Na and Mg in the Zoysia japonica grassland, and was Na, Mg and Ca in the Miscanthus Si nens is grassland. The amounts of annual cycles for Ca, Mg, Na in the grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 1.29, 0.20 and 0.12 g /m$^2$ in the Zoysia japonica grassland and 3.91, 1.04 and 0.61 g /m$^2$ in the Miscanthus sinensis grassland.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 1995

To elucidate the mineral cycles of potassium in a dynamic grassland ecosystem in a steady state condition, this investigation was cunducted along the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The exper-imental results may he summarized on communities of Z. japonica and M. sinensis as follows. As compared with some pronerties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, the levels of exchangeahle potassium were high in M. sinensis and low in Z. japonica. Contents of potassium for the litters of Z. japonica and M. sinensis were 1.69% and 2.51%, re-spectively. The annual production of potassium was 1.32 g /m$m^2$ in the Z. japonica grassland and 3. 08 g /m$m^2$in the M. sinensis grassland. For a case of steady production and release, the ratio of annual min- eral production to the amount accumulated on top of the mineral soil in a steady state provides estimates of the release constant k. The models of the release, accumulation and annual cycle of potassium in a grassland ecosystem are determined by the equation (1) to (3), respectively (Table 3). Since it requires a period of about each 0.693 /r, 3 /r and 5 /r years for the release and accumu-lation of 50, 95 and 99% of its steady-state level, the estimates for potassium in a dynamic grass-land ecosystem of Mt. Kwanak were 1.5, 6.6 and 11.0 years in the Z. japonica grassland, and were 2.7, 11.9 and 19.8 years in the M. sinensis grassland. The amounts of annual cycles for potassium in a grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 1.32 g /m$^2$ in the Z. japonica grassland and 3.08 g /$m^2$ in the M. sinensis grassland. Key words : ZQvsia japonica Ahscanthus sinensis, Mt. Kwanak, Potassium cycles.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1997

This study was performed to find out the mineral cycles of manganese and zinc in dynamic grassland ecosystems in a steady state condition at the northwest side on Mt. Kwanak. The experimental results may be summarized on the communities of a Zoysia japonica and a Miscanthus sincnsis as follows. As compared with some properties of the surface soils among two semi-natural grasslands, manganese and zinc was greater quantity in a Miscanthus sincnsis than in a Zoysia japonica on Mt. Kwana For the case of steady procluction and release, the ratio of annual mineral production to the amount accumulated on the top of mineral soil in a steady state provides the estimates of release constant k. The release constants of Mn and Zn of the litter were 0.19 and 0. 14 in the Zoysia japon- ica grassland, and were 0.44 and 0.41 in a Miscanthus sincnsis grassland, respectively. The halftimes of Mn and Zn required for the release or accumulation of the litter on the grassland were 3. 65 and 4.95 years in the Zoysia japonica, and were 1.57 and 1.69 years in the Miscanthus sincnsis, respectively. The amounts of annual cycles for Mn and Zn in the grassland ecosystem under the steady-state conditions were 58.60 and 21.46 mg /$m^2$ in a Zoysia japonica, and were 372.12 and 321.49 ing /m$^2$ in a Miscanthus sincnsis grassland. Key words: Zoysia japonica. Miscanthus sincnsis, Mt. Kwanak, Manganese, Zinc, Mineral cycles.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1630-1639
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• 2019

Objective: Sixty Pengbo semi-wool sheep ewes (approximately 1.5-years-old; $31.33{\pm}0.43kg$) were randomly assigned to two groups, either grazing (G) or dry lot feeding (D), to examine the effects of traditional daily grazing and dry lot feeding on performance and blood metabolites during the cold season in Tibetan Plateau. Methods: The ewes in the G group were grazed continuously each day and housed in one shed each evening, while the ewes in the D group were housed in another shed all day. All animals were fed 400 g/d of commercial concentrate, and grass hay was available freely throughout the experimental period. Results: Compared with the G group, the ewes in the D group had higher (p<0.05) live weight and weight gain. The D group ewes had greater (p<0.05) numbers of white blood cells and platelets, while they had lower (p<0.05) platelet-large cell ratios, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glutathione peroxidase, as compared with the G group ewes. Additionally, three serum metabolites, abscisic acid, xanthoxin and 3,4-dihydroxy-5-polypren, were upregulated (p<0.05) in the G group in comparison with the D group. Conclusion: In conclusion, a dry lot feeding regime during the winter and spring period will increase the productivity of sheep and improve blood physiological and biochemical profiles.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.322-332
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• 2013

This study was conducted to understand the control mechanism of Sika deer (Cervus nippon taiouanus) populations which are adapted to the natural forest areas and the semi-natural forest areas of Korea. We monitored and analyzed the behaviour patterns and habitat characteristics of Sika deers. After we released 12 Sika deers (male 3, female 9) each at the two study areas in and around Seoul under the approval of Korean government, we monitored them through our survey researchers' naked eyes from May 2011 to January 2012. We discriminated their habitat patterns to 4 major places - eating food place, drinking water place, daytime rest place, and nighttime rest place. Our results showed that Sika deer preferred the open grassland habitats for feeding and resting in daytime but the closed bushland for their protection and sleep. We also found the recommended sex ratio of adult male to female in a herd was 1 : 4~9 for breeding and they had few cubs in a herd. The average amount of food for 1 adult deer was 391.62 kg of fresh grasses and 286.90 kg of hay per year. Our results suggest that the amount of drinking water required for a deer when grazed on grasses during spring and summer seasons is 256.8 L and when a deer feeds on dry food during autumn and winter seasons, 209.8 L of water is required. From these results, we observe that the amount of drinking water was affected substantially by the moisture content of their food. This observational study must be very valuable for land managers to judge the number of deers that should be released in natural areas without high risk and to ascertain the sex ratio of large mammals including Sika deer. Therefore, we conclude that this population control mechanism study consists of efficient basic data and their values must be very effective for various purposes.