• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.408-417
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an aquaponics system utilizing catfish recirculating water on the growth and water quality in lettuce and chicory cultivation. After 60 d of catfish cultivation in the BFT-AP, the survival rate was 96.0% and average weight gain was 178.5 g. The WGR grew by 241.4% and the SGR was 3.0%. A comparison between lettuce and chicory cultivation using BFT-AP and hydroponics revealed significant increases in shoot height, leaf count per week, and biomass of the cultivated lettuce and chicory. The SPAD values also increased significantly by 15.4-43.3%. Water quality analysis of the BFT-AP systems and crop cultivation beds showed significant differences, except for K and Na. The average NO₃^- concentration in the sediment pond was significantly higher at 45.3±1.0. Comparison of water temperature, pH, EC, DO, and ORP in the BFT-AP system and crop cultivation beds revealed similar monthly water temperatures from July to September. The pH in the catfish culture pond was 0.3-1.2 lower than that in the crop cultivation beds, and the EC was approximately 0.01- 0.03 dS/m lower in the catfish culture pond than the crop cultivation beds. The monthly average ORP in the catfish culture bed steadily increased to 479.9 mV in October. Bacillus velezensis (AFB2-2) and Chlorella fusca (CF) were applied to the biological activation bed; the population density of CF showed a continuous increase, whereas that of AFB2-2 decreased after 15 d and gradually increased thereafter. Thus, the application of the recirculating aquaponics cultivation technology with catfish (BFT) enhances catfish cultivation and promotes the growth of lettuce and chicory. Therefore, it is considered suitable for the environment-friendly cultivation of lettuce and chicory.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.188-202
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• 2022

In the insect industry, as the scope of application of insects is expanded from pet insects and natural enemies to feed, edible and medicinal insects, the demand for quality control of insect raw materials is increasing, and interest in securing the safety of insect products is increasing. In the process of expanding the industrial scale, controlling the temperature and humidity and air quality in the insect breeding room and preventing the spread of pathogens and other pollutants are important success factors. It requires a controlled environment under the operating system. European commercial insect breeding facilities have attracted considerable investor interest, and insect companies are building large-scale production facilities, which became possible after the EU approved the use of insect protein as feedstock for fish farming in July 2017. Other fields, such as food and medicine, have also accelerated the application of cutting-edge technology. In the future, the global insect industry will purchase eggs or small larvae from suppliers and a system that focuses on the larval fattening, i.e., production raw material, until the insects mature, and a system that handles the entire production process from egg laying, harvesting, and initial pre-treatment of larvae., increasingly subdivided into large-scale production systems that cover all stages of insect larvae production and further processing steps such as milling, fat removal and protein or fat fractionation. In Korea, research and development of insect smart factory farms using artificial intelligence and ICT is accelerating, so insects can be used as carbon-free materials in secondary industries such as natural plastics or natural molding materials as well as existing feed and food. A Korean-style customized breeding system for shortening the breeding period or enhancing functionality is expected to be developed soon.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.314-322
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the hot air drying characteristics of squash slices depending on the drying conditions (input air velocity, input air temperature, and sample thickness). Methods: The developed drying system was equipped with a controllable air blower and electric finned heater, drying chamber, and ventilation fan. Squash (summer squash called Korean zucchini) samples were cut into slices of two different thicknesses (5 and 10 mm). These were then dried at two different input air temperatures (60 and $70^{\circ}C$) and air velocities (5 and 7 m/s). Six well-known drying models were tested to describe the experimental drying data. A non-linear regression analysis was applied to determine model constants and statistical indices such as the coefficient of determination ($R^2$), reduced chi-square (${\chi}^2$), and root mean square error (RMSE). In addition, the effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) was estimated based on the curve of ln(MR) versus drying time. Results: The results clearly showed that drying time decreased with an increase in input air temperature. Slice thickness also affected the drying time. Air velocity had a greater influence on drying time at $70^{\circ}C$ than at $60^{\circ}C$ for both thicknesses. All drying models accurately described the drying curve of squash slices regardless of slice thickness and drying conditions; the Modified Henderson and Pabis model had the best performance with the highest R2 and the lowest RMSE values. The effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) changes, obtained from Fick's diffusion method, were between $1.67{\times}10^{-10}$ and $7.01{\times}10^{-10}m^2/s$. The moisture diffusivity was increased with an increase in input air temperature, velocity, and thickness. Conclusions: The drying time of squash slices varied depending on input temperature, velocity, and thickness of slices. The further study is necessary to figure out optimal drying condition for squash slices with retaining its original quality.

• 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.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2018

This study set out to select a system to realize an optimal environment for strawberry cultivation greenhouses based on data about the growth and development of strawberry and its environment and to provide basic data for the research of its improved productivity. For these purposes, the investigator conducted a field survey with greenhouses for strawberry cultivation in western Gyeongnam. The findings show that farmers in their fifties and sixties accounted for the biggest part in the age groups of strawberry farmers. While those who were under 50 were accounted for approximately 67.5%, those who were 60 or older accounted for 32.5%. As for cultivation experiences, the majority of the farmers had ten years of cultivation experiences or less with some having 30 years of cultivation experiences or more. All the farmers built an arch type single span greenhouse. Those who used nutrient solutions were about 75.0%, being more than those who used soil. All of the farmers that used a nutrient solution adopted an elevated hydroponic system. The single span greenhouses were in the range of 7.5~8.5m, 1.3~1.8m and 2.5~3.5m for width, eaves, and ridge height, respectively, regardless of survey areas. The rafters interval was about 0.7~0.8m. In elevated hydroponic cultivation, the width, height, and interval of the beds were about 0.25m, 1.2m and 1.0m, respectively. As for the strawberry varieties, the domestic ones accounted for approximately 97.5% with Seolhyang being the most favorite one at about 65.0%. As for the internal environment factors of greenhouses, 38 farmers measured only temperature and relatively humidity. As for hydroponics, the farmers used a hydroponics control system. Except for the farmers that introduced a smart farm system for temperature and humidity control, approximately 85.0% controlled temperature and humidity only with a control panel for side windows and ventilation fans. As for heating and heat insulation, all of the farmers were using water curtains with many farmers using an oil or electric boiler, radiating lamp or non-woven fabric, as well, when necessary.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.819-833
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• 2021

This study is to evaluate applicability of linkage modeling using PHABSIM (Physical Habitat Simulation System) and SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) and to estimate ecological flow for target fishes of Andong downstream (4,565.7 km²). The SWAT was established considering 2 multi purpose dam (ADD, IHD) and 1 streamflow gauging station (GD). The SWAT was calibrated and validated with 9 years (2012 ~ 2020) data of 1 stream (GD) and 2 multi-purpose dam (ADD, IHD). For streamflow and dam inflows (GD, ADD and IHD), R², NSE and RMSE were 0.52 ~ 0.74, 0.48 ~ 0.71, and 0.92 ~ 2.51 mm/day respectively. As a result of flow duration analysis for 9 years (2012 ~ 2020) using calibrated streamflow, the average Q185 and Q275 were 36.5 m³/sec (-1.4%) and 23.8 m³/sec (0%) respectively compared with the observed flow duration and were applied to flow boundary condition of PHABSIM. The target stream was selected as the 410 m section where GD is located, and stream cross-section and hydraulic factors were constructed based on Nakdong River Basic Plan Report and HEC-RAS. The dominant species of the target stream was Zacco platypus and the sub-dominant species was Puntungia herzi Herzenstein, and the HSI (Habitat Suitability Index) of target species was collected through references research. As the result of PHABSIM water level and velocity simulation, error of Q185 and Q275 were analyzed -0.12 m, +0.00 m and +0.06 m/s, +0.09 m/s respectively. The average WUA (Weighted Usable Area) and ecological flow of Zacco platypus and Puntungia herzi Herzenstein were evaluated 76,817.0 m²/1000m, 20.0 m³/sec and 46,628.6 m²/1000m, 9.0 m³/sec. This results indicated Zacco platypus is more adaptable to target stream than Puntungia herzi Herzenstein.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.175-186
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• 2019

Efforts have been made to introduce the climate smart agriculture (CSA) for adaptation to future climate conditions, which would require collection and management of site specific meteorological data. The objectives of this study were to identify requirements for construction of agricultural meteorology information service system (AMISS) using technologies that lead to the fourth industrial revolution, e.g., internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and cloud computing. The IoT sensors that require low cost and low operating current would be useful to organize wireless sensor network (WSN) for collection and analysis of weather measurement data, which would help assessment of productivity for an agricultural ecosystem. It would be recommended to extend the spatial extent of the WSN to a rural community, which would benefit a greater number of farms. It is preferred to create the big data for agricultural meteorology in order to produce and evaluate the site specific data in rural areas. The digital climate map can be improved using artificial intelligence such as deep neural networks. Furthermore, cloud computing and fog computing would help reduce costs and enhance the user experience of the AMISS. In addition, it would be advantageous to combine environmental data and farm management data, e.g., price data for the produce of interest. It would also be needed to develop a mobile application whose user interface could meet the needs of stakeholders. These fourth industrial revolution technologies would facilitate the development of the AMISS and wide application of the CSA.