• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.409-417
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• 2020

Investigation was carried out to assess the effect of cement dust deposition on the physico-chemical properties of soil near some cement plants in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Soil samples were collected and analysed and compared with the control site. Comparison of various soil physico-chemical parameters revealed that cement dust emanating from cement plants has changed the soil quality in the surrounding areas of cement plants. The normal soil pH in the area is generally acidic. However, due to the continuous deposition of cement dust soil pH was found slightly alkaline near the cement plants. The higher values of soil parameters such as electrical conductivity and bulk density were also noticed near the cement plants. However, lower values of water holding capacity, soil moisture content, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content were found compared to the control sites. The effect of cement dust deposition on soil is more in areas nearer to the cement plants. At present the changes may not be so serious but if this trend continues, soil properties of a vast area around the cement plants are likely to change leading to multiple effects on flora, fauna and socio-economy of the area.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Biochar (BC) has a great potential for enhancing soil fertility and carbon sequestration while facilitating beneficial waste disposition. Therefore, it is essential to assess and mitigate any inadvertent consequences associated with soil biochar amendment. Earthworm activity is very vital in the soil system, yet there are a limited number of studies that have examined their impact resulting from biochar application to soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the survival, growth, reproductive tests, and oxidative DNA damage tests (measured by 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and catalase (CAT) activities) to assess the potential toxicity to earthworm Eisenia fetida in artificial soil amended with BCs were investigated. The BCs derived from perilla meal, sesame meal, and pumpkin seed were pyrolyzed at 300 and $550^{\circ}C$, and then amended with soil at a rate of 5%. All the earthworms survived, but lost weight compared to control soil after 28 day incubation period. Moreover, the BC-amended soils did not significantly affect the cocoon numbers of earthworms. Slightly higher concentrations of 8-OHdG and CAT were observed in earthworms present in BC-treated soil than those in control soil. Furthermore, the 8-OHdG concentrations in the soil amended with BC produced at $550^{\circ}C$ were greater than those at $300^{\circ}C$, and it slightly decreased as the incubation time increased. CONCLUSION: These observations could be due to higher contents of toxic metal(loid)s and also higher pH in BCs pyrolyzed at $550^{\circ}C$ than $300^{\circ}C$. While BC is efficiently being used in agricultural fields, this study suggests that it is required to assess the unintended negative impacts of BC on soil ecosystems.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

In this study, the feasibility of soil washing, chemical oxidation and sonication was investigated to treat lubricantcontaminated railroad soil. Tergitol, a non-ionic surfactant, was used as a washing agent with or without iso-propyl acohol as a cosolvent. However, it was not effective to remove lubricant from soil even though tergitol was the most effective washing agent for diesel-contaminated soil. The cosolvent reduced the overall washing efficiency. Chemical oxidation removed 30% of lubricant from contaminated soil. Soil washing after chemical oxidation extracted additionally 16-17% of lubricant. Sonication enhanced-soil washing showed enhanced overall efficiency of soil washing. Lubricant-contaminated soil should be remediated by the other technology used for diesel-contaminated soil.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.436-441
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• 2015

The chemical properties of paddy fields in Gyeonggi province were monitored every 4 years from 1999 to 2015 in order to provide basic information for soil fertility management of paddy fields. In 2015, the soil chemical properties of paddy fields were 5.9 in pH, $23g\;kg^{-1}$ in organic matter (OM), and $84mg\;kg^{-1}$ in available phosphate (Avail. $P_2O_5$). Exchangeable (Exch.) potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were 0.30, 5.1 and $1.3cmol_ckg^{-1}$, respectively, and available silicate (Avail. $SiO_2$) was $129mg\;kg^{-1}$. In the long-term analysis, the contents of Avail. $SiO_2$, Exch. Ca and pH of paddy soils showed increasing tendency. However, Avail. $P_2O_5$ and Exch. K tended to decrease, and there were no significant changes in the contents of OM and Exch. Mg. Paddy soil within appropriate pH range increased from 44% in 1999 to 76% in 2003, 84% in 2007, 63% in 2011, and 80% in 2015. But soil within appropriate range of Exch. Ca tended to decrease, showing 36% in 1999, 42% in 2003, 38% in 2007, 37% in 2011 and 32% in 2015. In case of Avail. $SiO_2$, soil within appropriate range increased from 14% in 1999 to 17% in 2003, 18% in 2007, 16% in 2011, and 31% in 2015. As a result, paddy fields with less in nutrient level need to be more fertilized based on soil analysis. And the application of silicate fertilizer is strongly recommended to those of paddy fields in need. Also soil management such as the cultivation of green manure crop or application of rice straw will be necessary to increase the organic matter content of paddy soil.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.239-247
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• 2022

The physico-chemical properties of agricultural soil are factors that affect crop productivity and soil fertility. In Korea, agricultural environment change surveys have been conducted every four years since 1999. The purpose of this study is to investigate the status and changes in the physico-chemical properties of agricultural soil in Chungcheongnam-do. Samples were collected from the exact location of the aforementioned environment survey, and environmental variables (land use, type of crop cultivated) were investigated in relation to the samples. Soil collection was conducted using a core sampler and a single gouge auger. The bulk density of the soil generally increased up to a depth of sampling of 40 cm but decreased thereafter to a depth of 60 cm. Additionally, the bulk density was highest in the upland soil case and stood at 1.59 g·cm^-3, while the lowest value of 1.52 g·cm^-3 was obtained from orchard soil samples. Conversely, the porosity and moisture gradually decreased at soil depths of 0 - 40 cm and increased at depths of 40 - 60 cm. Most of the soil chemical properties generally decreased with an increase the soil depth from 0 to 70 cm, but electrical conductivity (EC) increased up to a depth of 40 cm. Therefore, it is judged that it is necessary to lower the bulk density by supplying organic matter for agricultural land in Chungcheongnam-do.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.434-439
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• 2016

Anthropogenic soil in cropland is formed in the process of subsoil reversal and the refill of soil into cropland. However, there was little information on the chemical properties within soil profiles in anthropogenic soil under rice paddy near the river. In this study, we investigated the chemical properties within soil profiles in the anthropogenic soil located at 4 sites in Gumi, Kimhae, Chungju, and Euiseong to compare with the natural paddy soil near the river. Among particle sizes, the sand content decreased under soil profiles but the silt and clay contents increased compared to the natural paddy soil in soil profiles. Organic matter content in topsoil of anthropogenic soil was lower than in that of natural soil, which was shown the contrary tendency within soil profiles. Also, the soil pH, available $P_2O_5$, and exchangeable cations were higher in anthropogenic soil compared to natural paddy soil at topsoil, which was maintained these tendency into soil depth. Nutrients may be equally distributed in anthropogenic soil during the process of refill in paddy soil near the river. This results indicated that anthropogenic soil would contribute to carbon sequestration, the mitigation of compaction, and reduction of fertilizer application in paddy soil. Therefore, characteristics of anthropogenic soil can be used for the soil management in cropland.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.530-535
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of slurry composting and biofiltration (SCB) liquid manure application on shoot growth, fruit qualities and soil chemical properties in peach orchard. SCB liquid manure was fertigated ten times from April to October in SCB plot, whereas chemical fertilizer was treated two times as basal and additional fertilizers in control plot. The shoot growth, leaf nitrogen and potassium content, soil exchangeable K, fruit weight and yield were higher in SCB plot than in control. Soluble solid content and acidity, soil organic matter, soil available phosphate and soil exchangeable Mg showed no significant difference between treatments, and the leaf calcium and magnesium content were lower in SCB plot than in control. In conclusion, fertigating SCB liquid manure in peach orchard has positive effects on fruit weight and yield, and it is suggested that periodical soil testing is needed because of the possibility of K accumulation in SCB liquid manure treated soil when the orchard is fertigated based on the soil nitrogen content.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2007

Organic farming systems based on ecological concepts have the potential to produce sustainable crop yields with no decline in soil and environmental qualities. Recent expansion of sustainable agricultural systems, including organic farming, has brought about need for development of sustainable farming systems based on value judgments for key properties of importance for farming. Chemical and microbiological properties were chosen as indicators of soil quality and measured at soil depth intervals of 5-20 and 20-35 cm in conventional and organic-based apple orchards located in Yeongchun, Gyeongbuk. The orchards were two adjacent fields to ensure the same pedological conditions except management system. Soil pH in organic farming was around 7.5, whereas below 6.0 in conventional farming. Organic farming resulted in significant increases in organic matter and Kjeldahl-N contents compared to those found with conventional management. Microbial populations, biomass C, and enzyme activities (except acid phosphatase) in apple orchard soil of organic farming were higher than those found in conventional farming. Higher microbial quotient ($C_{mic}/C_{org}$ ratio) and lower microbial metabolic quotient for $CO_2(qCO_2)$ in organic farming confirmed that organic farming better conserves soil organic carbon. Biological soil quality indicators showed significant positive correlations with soil organic matter content. These results indicate organic-based farming positively affected soil organic matter content, thus improving soil chemical and biological qualities.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.20
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• pp.39-47
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• 2002

This study was carried out in order to produce useful material for the forest multiple use and forest protection by soil physico-chemical analysis of studied area in Mt. Palgong. The results of soil physico-chemical analysis and statistical analysis represented as following 2 points. 1. Soil depth was in the range of average 61.1 cm and soil texture was loamy sand and sandy loam except Donghwasa area. The part of solid phase and gaseous phase were higher than other areas, but liquid phase was less in verse. Soil water content was in an average 49.5%, penetrability was average $1.95{\times}E^{-2}cm/sec$ and the average of soil hardness was $1.64Kg/cm^2$. This data showed that soil water content, penetrability and soil hardness were good at Mt. Palgong forest soils. 2. Soil pH was the range of 3.4 to 6.0, organic carbon content was 2.8% that is nearly mean of the Korea brown forest soils, total N content is somewhat smaller than that of other places, and total average C/N ratios was 13.9. Average available $P_2O_5$ concentration was 5.05 mg/kg that is lower than that of any others. The concentration of available P of coniferous forests is higher than that of deciduous forests. Exchangeable cations content is similar to those of the Korea brown forest soil and the order of the cation content extent is $Ca^{2+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ > $Na^+$ > $K^+$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.22-25
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• 2002

The effect of in-situ chemical oxidation on the indigenous soil microorganisms (total microbes and PAH-degrading microbes) and contaminant removal were investigated. Field soil contaminated with diesel in gas station was collected and the soil was treated from 0 to 900 minutes by in-situ ozonation as chemical remediation. The treated soil samples were incubated with supplying oxygen during the 9 weeks to understand the characteristics of microbes regrowth, damaged by ozone. The sharp decrease of aromatic fraction and TPH was observed within 60 minutes of ozone application and aromatic fraction and TPH then slowly decreased. The phenanthren-degrading bacteria were the most sensitive to ozonation, because 1 hour of ozonation reduced the microbes from 10$^{6}$ CFU/g-soil to below detection limits.