• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2001

The objectives of this study were to investigate the contamination of the soils around the major roadsides in Seoul and to accumulate base-line data. Fifty topsoils ($0{\sim}5$ cm) and 48 subsoils ($20{\sim}50$ cm) were collected from 50 sampling sites near Manguro in Chungnanggu. The samples were air-dried, passed through 2-mm sieves, and analyzed to determine the physicochemical properties and the contents of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and anions (Cl, $NO_3$, $SO_4$). Soil textures of top- and subsoils were mainly loamy sand and sandy loam, respectively. Average $_PH$ of top- and subsoil was approximately 7.5, much higher than that of the forest soils in Seoul. Average heavy metal contents were lower than the levels allowed by the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea, whereas much higher than those of the forest soils. Contents of some heavy metals were higher than the maximum allowed levels. Anion concentrations were also much higher than those of the forest soils. A careful management to prevent the aggravation of the present contamination level and the diffusion of contaminants is recommended.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1389-1394
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• 2012

This study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest development area. The results of physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest development area shown on the average loamy sand~sandy clay loam in soil texture, 5.3~7.1 in pH, 0.02~0.18 dS/m in EC, 0.7~1.8% in OM, 0.03~0.11% in T-N, 11~15 $cmol^+/kg$ in CEC, 0.02~0.04 $cmol^+/kg$ in $K^+$, 4.51~8.18 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Ca^{2+}$, 0.93~2.77 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Mg^{2+}$, 6~49 mg/kg in available phosphate. And the results of physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest non-development area shown on the average sandy loam~sandy clay loam in soil texture, 4.4~5.3 in pH, 0.03~0.05 dS/m in EC, 3.1~4.6% in OM, 0.13~0.23% in T-N, 14~18 $cmol^+/kg$ in CEC, 0.02~0.04 $cmol^+/kg$ in $K^+$, 0.78~3.82 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Ca^{2+}$, 0.29~1.31 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Mg^{2+}$, 3~31 mg/kg in Av. $P_2O_5$. On the other hand, forest development area of topsoil sand content higher than 8~18% sand content than the forest non-development area. This trend is thought to be the absence of topsoil management development projects. Consequently, the results suggested a high potential of recycling of the topsoil from forest non-development area for planting soil. Therefore, in construction of the conservation and management of topsoil from forest non-development area is very important.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Increase of heavy metals in agricultural ecosystem has become a social issue nationwide as it is related to public health. This study was performed to find out the status and long-term trends with consecutive application with the commercial liquid pig manure in the agricultural fields. METHODS AND RESULTS: Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were analyzed in the 41 samples of paddy fields and 54 samples of upland fields consecutively applied with commercial liquid pig manure for 0 to 16 years. Heavy metal accumulation were not increased statistically at the both paddy and upland fields as the consecutive application year of commercial liquid pig manure were increased. However, some of surveyed upland soils exceeded the criteria of cadmium, copper, and zinc designated by the Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. CONCLUSION: Therefore, analysis of heavy metals, specially copper and zinc, in agricultural fields is absolutely necessary before liquid pig manure application to the fields. In addition, heavy metal accumulation in agricultural fields following to the long-term application of liquid pig manure will be monitored periodically considering with bioavailability of copper and zinc to the crops as an essential nutrients.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2018

In many countries, recycling coal ashes as backfill materials for subsided lands, abandoned mine tunnels, and road pipeline constructions by making low-strength concretes with minimal amounts of cement is frequently considered for massive treatment of coal ashes. This study investigates the variation of heavy metals in the concrete test pieces prepared for the cases of using only Portland cement as binding material, fly ash as a replacement of the cement, sand as aggregates, and disposed ashes in the ash ponds as a replacement of aggregates. Heavy metal contents were measured based on the aqua regia extraction technique following the Korean Standard for Fair Testing of Soil Contamination and the influences of each materials on the total heavy metal contents were also assessed. Results show that the cement has the highest Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations than any other materials. Therefore, the test pieces show significant concentration decreases for those metals when the cement was replaced by fly ash. Ponded ash shows low concentrations relative to fly ash in most of the parameters but shows higher Cu and Ni, and lower Pb levels than the sand aggregate. In overall, heavy metal levels of the test pieces are regulated by mixing among the used materials. Test pieces prepared during this study always show concentrations much lower than the Worrisome Level of Soil Contamination (Area 1), which was designated by the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

The habitats characteristics of Polypodium vulgare L. in Ulleung-do were investigated to compile basic data for conservation and restoration. Natural habitats were located at altitudes of 410~748m with inclinations of $12{\sim}80^{\circ}$. Sixty six vascular plants were identified from 10 quadrats in 4 habitats. Dominant species among the woody plants, based on importance value, were Acer pictum subsp. mono(49.52%) in the tree (T1) layer, Sorbus amurensis(28.99%) in the subtree (T2) and Schizophragma hydrangeoides(51.99%), Ligustrum foliosum(8.82%), Fagus engleriana(7.25%) in the shrub (S) layer. Importance value for members of the herb (H) layer were as follows: Polypodium vulgare 23.23%; Maianthemum dilatatum 9.65%; Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica 9.23%; Dryopteris crassirhizoma 8.40%; Carex shimidzensis 6.75% and Dystaenia takesimana 5.42%. The importance value of the last five species were high, so they were at affinity with Polypodium vulgare in their habitats. Species diversity was 1.18, and dominance and evenness were found to be 0.11 and 0.84, respectively. The soil types were sandy loam. Average field capacity was 30.42%, and the organic matter and pH were 17.95%, and 4.70. Correlation coefficients based on environmental factors, vegetation and soil analysis were showed that positive correlations between species diversity and species richness, whereas between species diversity and dominance, coverage of Polypodium vulgare and species richness were showed negative correlations.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2013

This study investigated some of the specific ecological characteristics Torreya nucifera forest and its health conditions so that was drawn from four different management strategies, such as Types A, B, C, and D, for protected areas of forest genetic resources. Type A refers to passive management which routinely keeps the current status of forests by removing competitive trees or curing damaged ones. Type B, as active one which improves Torreya nucifera forest, includes increase of soil pH and removal of Sasa borealis, Phyllostachys bambusoides, and deciduous broad-leaved trees such as Quercus variabilis, Carpinus tschonoskii et al.. Type C is another passive one which reduces soil acidity within Chamae cyparisobtusa forest and maintains the existing forests. Type D is another active one which decreases soil acidity and simultaneously reduces problems associated with competitive and invasive plants to nurture the young trees. At last, it is important to note that the protected areas for forest genetic resources need to be entitled to categories III(natural monument) or IV(habitat/species management area) in accordance with protected area management guidelines of IUCN.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2009

The distribution and habitat characteristics of Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai were investigated to compile basic data for conservation and restoration. The species Echinosophora koreensis is distributed within fourteen regions of the Korean Province of Gangwon, including Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Cheorwon-gun, Chuncheon-si and Hongcheon-gun. Natural habitats were located at altitudes of 192-626 m, with inclinations of $1-45^{\circ}$. One hundred and fifty seven vascular plant taxa were identified from 42 quadrats in 14 habitats. Dominant species among the woody plants, based on importance value, were Pinus densiflora and Quercus dentata in the tree (T1) layer, Quercus variabilis, Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica in subtree (T2) layer, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Prunus sargentii, Zanthoxylum schinifilium, and Ulmus davidiana var. japonica in the shrub (S) layer. Importance values for members of the herb layer were: Echinosophora koreensis 28.34%; Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 10.21%; Spodiopogon sibiricus 7.60%; Atractylodes ovata 4.77% and Carex lanceolata 4.13%. The importance values of the last four species were high, so they were at affinity with Echinosophora koreensis in their habitats. Average species diversity was 1.03, and evenness and dominance were found to be 0.82 and 0.16, respectively. The soil types were sandy loam and loam. Average field capacity was 13.28%, and the organic matter and soil pH were 6.70% and 5.77, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.4
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• pp.534-545
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• 2010

To examine 1) rainfall pattern (i.e., type and intensity) regulating surface erosion on hillslopes in postwildfire area and 2) its effect on variation in sediment yield along the gradient of severity wildfire regimes and elapsed years, we surveyed the amount of sediment yield with respect to daily or net-effective rainfall in 9 plots in eastern coastal region, Republic of Korea. Before field investigation, all plots classified into three groups: low-, mixed- and high-severity wildfire regimes (3 plots in each group). We found that, with decreasing wildfire regimes and increasing elapsed years, the rainfall type regulating surface erosion changed from daily rainfall to net-effective rainfall (considering rainfall continuity) and its intensity increased continuously. In general, wildfires can destroy the stabilized forest floors, and thus rainfall interception by vegetation and litter layer should be reduced. Wildfires can also decrease soil pores in forest floors, and thus infiltration rates of soil are reduced. These two processes lead to frequent occurrence of overland flows required to surface erosion, and sediment yields in post-wildfire areas should increase linearly with increasing rainfall events. With the decreasing severity wildfire regimes and the increasing elapsed years, these processes should be stabilized, and therefore their sediment yields also decreased. Our findings on variations in sediment yields caused by the wildfire regimes and the elapsed years suggest understanding of hydrogeomorphic and ecologic diversities in post-wildfire areas, and these should be carefully examined for both watershed management and disaster prevention.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.233-246
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• 2009

The partitioning of evapotranspiration (ET) into evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) is critical in understanding the water cycle and the couplings between the cycles of energy, water, and carbon. In forests, the total ET measured above the canopy consists of T from both overstory and understory vegetation, and E from soil and the intercepted precipitation. To quantify their relative contributions, we have measured ET from the floors of deciduous and coniferous forests in Gwangneung using eddy covariance technique from 1 June 2008 to 31 May 2009. Due to smaller eddies that contribute to turbulent transfer near the ground, we performed a spectrum analysis and found that the errors associated with sensor separation were <10%. The annual sum of the understory ET was 59 mm (16% of total ET) in the deciduous forest and 43 mm (~7%) in the coniferous forest. Overall, the understory ET was not negligible except during the summer season when the plant area index was near its maximum. In both forest canopies, the decoupling factor ($\Omega$) was about ~0.15, indicating that the understory ET was controlled mainly by vapor pressure deficit and soil moisture content. The differences in the understory ET between the two forest canopies were due to different environmental conditions within the canopies, particularly the contrasting air humidity and soil water content. The non-negligible understory ET in the Gwangneung forests suggests that the dual source or multi-level models are required for the interpretation and modeling of surface exchange of mass and energy in these forests.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2018

Reproductive phenology and physiological responses of Epilobium hirsutum L. to moisture content and nutrient content of soil were analysed in order to obtain basic data for effective conservation and restoration. Epilobium hirsutum L. is a perennial plant. But Epilobium hirsutum L. grew reproductively in all moisture and nutrient gradients. Flower bud, flowers and peduncle were respectively ripened in earlier under highest moisture condition and highest nutrient condition. And, number of flowers and peduncle were more quickly increased under highest moisture condition and highest nutrient condition. Chlorophyll content was high under highest moisture condition and higher middle moisture condition. However, we found no significant difference of chlorophyll content regard to nutrient gradients. There was no difference in minimum chlorophyll fluorescence among all moisture and nutrient gradients. The photochemical efficiency values of PS II were 0.75 in all moisture gradients, and it was 0.78 in highest nutrient gradient. The chlorophyll content of Epilobium hirsutum L. increased as the moisture content increased, and the Fv/Fm value increased as the organic matter increased. Our results showed that high moisture and nutrient content of soil advance their breeding season and promote reproductive growth. It might be important basic informations for the maintenance of population and the management of habitat of Epilobium hirsutum L. an endangered plant species.