• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2011

Soil microbial diversity was responsible for a strong effect on the chemical properties of orchard soils. This study evaluated a relationship between soil chemical properties and soil microbial diversities at 25 sites in orchard soils in Gyeongnam Province. The average nutrients in the orchard soils were 2.6 times for available phosphorous, 2.3 times for exchangeable potassium and 1.3 times for exchangeable calcium higher compared to recommend concentrations in the orchard soils. Contents of available phosphorous and organic matter in the inclined piedmont soils were higher than those in the other topographical soils (p<0.05). Populations of fungi and fluorescence Pseudomonas sp. in the silt loam soils were significantly higher than those in the sandy loam soils (p<0.05). In principal component analysis of chemical properties and microbial populations in the upland soils, our findings suggested that population of bacteria should be considered as potential factor responsible for the clear orchard soils differentiation. The soil organic matter was significantly negative correlation with population of bacteria whereas was positive correlation with population of fungi in orchard soils.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: The use of green manure and compost as organic fertilizer may increase crop yield and soil fertility due to improved soil nutrient availability and soil organic matter content (SOM). This study aimed to investigate the effects of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.) and compost application on red pepper growth, yield, fruit quality and soil health. METHODS AND RESULTS: The treatments were no fertilizer (CON), chemical fertilizer (CF), hairy vetch (HV), and livestock compost+HV (LC+HV). Red pepper seedlings (70 days old) were transplanted and maintained in experimental plots for 140 days. Plant dry weight, micro- and macronutrient contents of plants and soil chemical properties were determined. All fertilizer treatments significantly increased plant dry weight. Fruit yield was significantly highest with HV treatment. As for nutrient content, plants in HV and LC+HV treatments have significantly higher K and Ca contents than the other treatments. Regarding soil properties, HV and LC+HV application significantly altered the soil chemical properties. Significantly higher SOM was observed in HV and LC+HV treated soils. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that short-term application of hairy vetch and compost is an effective alternative to the conventional chemical fertilizer to increase fruit yield red pepper and improve soil health.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.773-778
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• 2011

Long-term continuous application of livestock by-products to agricultural land may adversely affect the soil characteristics and the crop yield. Five year term study from 2007 was carried out to assess the effects of repeated application of low-concentration swine slurry on soil chemical properties including phosphate and heavy metal contents and yield of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in a greenhouse. Treatments were conventional chemical fertilizers and three application rates of low-concentration swine slurry (Slurry composting and biofiltration, SCB): 50%, 100%, and 200% of recommended nitrogen fertilization. For swine slurry treatment of 50% nitrogen, deficient nitrogen was supplemented with urea fertilizer. The soil phosphorus and heavy metal contents after five year continuous application of swine slurry were not significantly higher than those of chemical fertilizer use. Repeated application of the swine slurry alone for five years resulted in relatively high soil exchangeable potassium and sodium compared with chemical fertilizer treatment. Contents of heavy metals in leaves of tomato and cucumber did not show significant difference among treatments. Yields of the crops for the swine slurry were not significantly different from that of chemical fertilizer. The results imply that continuous application of the swine slurry may not influence levels of soil phosphate and trace elements in greenhouse soils but could accumulate potassium and sodium in the soil.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

This study presents a technical perspective to the fate characteristics of phenol and m-cresol, which represent some of the most common organic chemicals found in chemical spill accidents, and likely to persist in soil and groundwater due to their highly stable physicochemical properties. Some cases of domestic and foreign chemical accidents linked to phenol and m-cresol contamination were compiled. Due to their low organic carbon-water partitioning coefficient (Koc), phenol and m-cresol tend to migrate into groundwater and remained as dissolved phase. On the other hands, phenol and m-cresol can be readily decomposed by microbes in soil and groundwater under appropriate conditions. Therefore, the fate characteristics of these chemicals are highly contingent on environmental conditions. Thus, if a great quantity of leakage is occurred by chemical accidents, the up-to-date and correct information about fate characteristics taking into account both the chemical and environmental conditions is greatly needed to minimized the potential hazards from these chemicals.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The urgency of feeding the world's growing population while combating soil pollution, salinization and desertification requires suitable biotechnology not only to improve crop productivity but also to improve soil health through interactions of soil nutrient and soil microorganism. Interest in the utilization of microbial fertilizer has increased. A principle of nature farming is to produce abundant and healthy crops without using chemical fertilizer and pesticides, and without interrupting the natural ecosystem. Beneficial microorganisms may provide supplemental nutrients in the soil, promote crop growth, and enhance plant resistance against pathogenic microorganisms. We mixed beneficial microorganisms such as Bacillus sp. Han-5 with anti-fungal activities, Trichoderma harziaum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum with organic material degrading activity, Actinomycetes bovis with antibiotic production and Pseudomonas sp. with nitrogen fixation. This study was carried out to investigate the mixtures on the soil microflora and soil chemical properties and the effect on the growth of lettuce and cucumber under greenhouse conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The microbial mixtures were used with each of organic fertilizer, swine manure and organic+swine manure and compared in regard to changes in soil chemical properties, soil microflora properties and crop growth. At 50 days after the treatment of microorganism mixtures, the pH improved from 5.8 to 6.3, and the EC, $NO_3$-Na and K decreased by 52.4%, 60.5% and 29.3%, respectively. The available $P_2O_5$ and $SiO_2$ increased by 25.9% and 21.2%, respectively. Otherwise, the population density of fluorescent Pseudomonas sp. was accelerated and the growth of vegetables increased. Moreover, the population density of E. coli and Fusarium sp., decreased remarkably. The ratio of bacteria to fungi (B/F) and the ratio of Actinomycetes bovis to fungi (A/F) increased 2.3 (from 272.2 to 624.4) and 1.7 times (from 38.3 to 64), respectively. Furthermore, the growth and yield of cucumber and lettuce significantly increased by the treatment of microorganism mixtures. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that the treatment of microorganism mixtures improved the chemical properties and the microflora of soil and the crop growth. Therefore, it is concluded that the microorganism mixtures could be good alternative soil amendments to restore soil nutrients and soil microflora.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2007

The relationships between the cover of herbaceous species and 15 soil chemical properties (organic carbon contents, total N, available P, exchangeable K, Na, Ca and Mg, HCl-extractable Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in nine poorly controlled waste landfill sites in Korea were examined by correlation analysis and multiple regression equations. Species showed different patterns of correlation between their cover values and soil chemical properties. The cover of Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior, Aster subulatus var. sandwicensis and Erechtites hieracifolia were negatively correlated with the contents of Fe, Mn and Ni within landfill soils. Total cover of all species in quadrats was positively correlated with the contents of Cd and negatively correlated with the contents of Mn and Fe from stepwise regression analysis with 15 soil properties. Canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated that the distribution of native and exotic plants on poorly controlled landfills was significantly influenced by the contents of Na and Ca in soils, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate effect of chemical amendments on reducing bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in soil along with ecotoxicological effect on earthworms, Eisenia fetida. Three different chemical amendments, lime (L), steel slag (SS), and acid mine drainage sludge (AMDS), were applied with varied application ratio (1, 3, 5%). Heavy metal contaminated soil was mixed with chemical amedments and earthworms, Eisenia fetida, were cultivated for 28 days. Bioavailable fraction of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) extracted with 0.1N HCl was monitored and also, mortality, growth, and metal concentration in earthworm were assessed. Result showed that all three amendments had high efficiency to reduce bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in soil. In particular, lime showed the highest reduction rate of Cu (63.9-87.7%), Pb (7.90-24.65%), and Zn (40.83-77.60%) among three amendments. No mortality of earthworm was observed during experimental period except 3% and 5% AMDS treatment indicating that application of chemical amendments is safe in terms of ecotoxicological aspect. However, no positive correlation was observed between reduction of bioavaialble fraction of heavy metals in soil and earthworms. Overall, application of chemical amendments in agricultural field can be adapted for reducing bioavailable fraction of heavy metals and detoxification in soil.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.254-261
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• 2014

The scientific information between microbial activities and chemical properties of reclaimed tidal soil is not enough to apply for reclamation projects. This study was conducted to investigate the relation between chemical properties and microbial activities of reclaimed tidal lands located at western coastal area (25 samples from Nampo, Ewon, Sukmoon and Shihwa sites). Most of the reclaimed soils showed chemical characteristics as salinity soil except Nampo site. The major component influenced the salinity of reclaimed soil was identified as a sodium from the relationship between EC and exchangeable cation. With an increase in EC of soil, the population of mesophilic bacteria decreases whereas halotolerant and halophilic bacteria increases. The population of mesophilic bacteria increased with an increase in both organic matter and dehydrogenase activity. However, the population of halotolerant and halophilic bacteria decreased with an increase in organic matter. Based on the relation between chemical property and microbial activity of reclaimed tidal soil, electrical conductivity and organic matter as chemical properties of soil, population of mesophilic bacteria, halotolerant and halophilic bacteria and dehydrogenase activity as microbial activities could be the major parameters for reclamation process.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2014

Nutrient accumulation in surface soil has become a serious problem for cucumber production in greenhouse. However, still in many cases, soil management practices are only focused on maintaining crop yield, regardless of sustainability related with soil chemical properties. This study was conducted to propose a sustainable soil management practice by investigating the impact of cover crop species and nitrogen rate of fertigated solution on cucumber yield and soil chemical properties in greenhouse condition. Rye and hairy vetch were tested as a fallow cover crop, and each amount of urea (1/2, 3/4, 1 times of N fertilizer recommendations), determined by soil testing result, was supplied in fertigation plots as an additional nitrogen source. The result showed that the yield of cucumber was higher in rye treatment than control and hairy vetch treatment. In addition, rye effectively reduced EC and accumulated nutrients from the soil. Meanwhile, N concentration of fertigated solution showed no significant effect on the growth and yield of cucumber. Consequently, these results suggest that it is desirable to choose rye as a fallow catch crop for sustainable cucumber production in greenhouse.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.399-407
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• 2013

Organic grape was generally produced in rainshield or plastic greenhouse culture while most of fruits were produced in open field. But little attention has been given to soil properties with different culture facilities in organic grape cultivation. This study was conducted to investigate soil physico-chemical properties of organic grapes farms with different culture facilities and soil management practices. Organic fertilizer was main resource to manage soil at organic grapes farms. Organic grapes farms were applied with total amount of organic fertilizer at one time, either at basal or additional fertilization, whereas conventional grapes farms applied with split fertilization. Bulk density and penetration resistance of soil were lower at both rainshield and green manure-applied plastic greenhouse cultures than those at clean plastic greenhouse culture. Especially, in plastic greenhouse, sod culture with natural weed after green manure application was more effective than general sod culture in improving physical properties of the rhizosphere. The contents of organic matter, available phosphate and exchangeable potassium tended to increase in the soils applied with green manure, and the difference of soil chemical properties were significant between rainshield and plastic greenhouse cultures. The optimum soil management was required in plastic greenhouse because pH, available phosphate and exchangeable cations reached over optimum range. Consequently, the ground cover management is the key factor to affect the chemical properties as well as soil physical properties extensively in plastic greenhouse. It is found that sod culture with natural weed after green manure application resulted in enhancement of utilization efficiency of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potassium in soil in comparison with general sod culture.