• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.161-172
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• 2018

Purpose: During tillage operations, the selection of a working machine (tool) depends on the soil conditions as well as the type of tillage operation to be performed. The goal of this research was to ascertain the effects of varying working machine parameters of a compact disc harrow on tillage operations under various soil moisture content (SMC) conditions. Methods: The working machine parameters were the disc spacing and machine speed. The tillage parameters under investigation were the soil inversion ratio (SIR), tillage cutting depth (TCD), and soil clod breakage ratio (SCB). To determine the SIR, the areas of the white regions before and after tillage were obtained. The ratio of the difference of the areas of the white regions before and after tillage to the area of the white regions before tillage was considered as the SIR. The SCB was obtained as the ratio of the weight of soil clods after sieving with a mesh size of <0.02 m to the total weight of the soil clods before sieving. The soil TCD was measured using a tape measure at random points after the tillage operation. The resulting data were statistically analyzed in a one-way analysis of variance. Results: The highest soil inversion was achieved when the machine speed was 0.2 m/s with the disc spaced at 0.2 m in the 16.5% SMC. At a 0.4-m/s machine speed and 0.3-m disc spacing the highest soil breakage was achieved in the 26.5% SMC. The highest TCD was achieved at a 0.2-m/s machine speed and 0.2-m disc spacing in the 16.5% SMC. Conclusions: It was concluded that varying the working machine parameters, such as the disc spacing and machine speed, could significantly affect the soil inversion and soil clod breakage; however, it had no significant impact on the TCD.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.530-538
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• 2023

This study conducted an investigation into the effects of fruit type and cultivation practices (organic and conventional) on soil characteristics and soil arthropod communities within apple, blueberry, grape, peach, and pear orchards. The collection of soil arthropod communities was achieved through the utilization of pitfall traps, with concurrent measurements taken for soil moisture content, electrical conductivity, and temperature. The findings of this study unveiled substantial impacts attributed to fruit type and cultivation practices on soil characteristics. Specifically, within organic apple orchards, discernibly higher levels of soil moisture content, electrical conductivity, and temperature were observed when compared to their conventional counterparts. The investigation into soil arthropod communities yielded a total of 1,527 individuals, classified in to five phyla and 15 orders. The range of abundance, species richness, and diversity indices varied across conventional and organic orchards. Cultivation practices were found not to exert a significant influence on soil arthropod community characteristics. However, Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis indicated a significant differentiation in soil arthropod community structure based on cultivation practices. This study underscores the importance of considering vegetation structure and environmental characteristics that may influence soil arthropod communities comprehensively when assessing the impact of cultivation practices on soil arthropods. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to account for both the characteristics and structure of soil arthropod communities in understanding the implications of cultivation practices on these organisms.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2007

This study has been focused on an application of microwave pre-treatment of soil contaminated with volatile organic chemicals, and BTEX(benzene, toluene, ethylene, xylene). Microwave experiments were carried out under different power conditions (2 kW, 4 kW) using different moisture contents and BTEX concentration. According to these results of this study, the most BTEX removal efficiency was with 20% moisture contents regardless of electric power. The result show that 2kW was determined to the optimum electric power at $10{\sim}30%$ moisture contents, but the optimum power was 4 kW at 50% of moisture content.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 1997

Time-consuming experiments have been required in the development of neutron moisture gauge to induce a relation between the water content in soil and the neutron counts. Applying a monte carlo computer code to simulate the experiments of neutron moisture gauging may contribute to reduce time and efforts for experiments and produce a calibration equation which is more applicable to soil in general. In this study MCNP4A, a monte carlo computer code, was employed to simulate soil experiments and the simulated results were compared with experimental ones. The comparative study showed that MCNP4A is applicable to simulate the experiments and calibration equation can be obtained through simulations. Effects of dry density changes were also studied.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.422-432
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• 2022

Soil and micro-climatic environmental monitoring was conducted to evaluate the factors causing tree growth impediments at the Baekdudaegan ecological axis restoration project site. As a result, it was found that the nutrient supply was insufficient in the restoration project site due to the lack of organic matter, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity of the soil compared to the surrounding forest. After the completion of the restoration, the soil moisture in the autumn decreased more than 7 times faster than that of the surrounding forest, and it was evaluated that the soil moisture was significantly low due to the lack of silt and clay content. In the case of the restoration site, the annual potential evapotranspiration was analyzed to be 975mm, which is approximately two times higher than that of the surrounding forest. The soil moisture of the restoration site in the summer decreased rapidly during the daytime when the amount of insolation increased and this was found to be strongly influenced by the increase in potential evapotranspiration. In order to improve the above factors affecting the tree growth at the Baekdudaegan ecological axis restoration project site, it is necessary to induce the smooth supply of nutrients and water to plants by improving physical proprieties and cation exchange capacity, i.e., using litterfall, humus soil, soil conditioner and organic fertilizer. The results of this study are expected to serve as basic data for the design, construction, and management of ecological axis restoration projects in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 1998

This study was to compare soil characteristics among Quercus mongolica communities that characterize the boreal-temperate deciduous forest in Korea. The classification of Quercus mongolica community and soil sampling were carried in Mt. Odae and Mt. Jungwang in Kangwondo from April of 1991 to October of 1994. The study area was classified as 5 Quercus mongolica communities with Braun-Blanquet method as follows; Quercus mongolica - Abies nephrolepis, Quercus mongolica - Acer pseudosieboldianum, Quercus mongolica - Lindera obtusiloba, Quercus mongolica - Acer mandshuricum, and Quercus mongolica - Carpinus cordata communities. Quercus mongolica - Abies nephorolepis community had the most shallow depth of A horizon(5cm) among communities, and root penetration was mainly from 0 to 10cm soil depth, and they had a dry soil moisture condition. Depth of A horizon of Quercus mongolica - Lindera obtusiloba and Quercus mongolica - Acer mandshuricum communities was about 20cm, and root penetration was mainly from 0 to 20cm soil depth, and they had a slightly dry soil moisture condition. Quercus mongolica - Acer mandshuricum, and Quercus mongolica -Carpinus cordata communities had the deepest depth of A horizon(35cm) and root was well developed over 45cm, and they had a moderately-slight dry soil condition. The soil organic matter, total N, exchangeable Ca, Mg and K concentration and CEC was the greatest in Quercus mongolica-Acer mandshuricum community and Quercus mongolica-Carpinus cordata community among communities. Quercus mongolica - Abies nephyolepis community had the smallest soil organic matter, total N, and CEC among communities. There were large differences among Quercus mongolica communities by soil properties and the result may be due to different habitat positions in the landscape among communities.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2023

For appropriate nutrient management and enhanced plant growth, soil sensors which reflect soil nutrient levels are required. Because there is no available sensor for nutrient monitoring, electrical conductivity (EC) sensor can be used to evaluate soil nutrient levels. Soil nutrient management using EC sensors would be possible by understanding the relationship between sensor EC values and soil temperature, moisture, and nutrient content. However, the relationship between soil sensor EC values and plant available nutrients was not investigated. Therefore, the objectives of the study were to evaluate effect of different amount of urea on soil EC monitored by sensors during pepper and broccoli cultivation and to predict the plant available nutrient contents in soil. During the cultivation period, soil was collected periodically for analyzing pH and EC, and the available nutrient contents. The sensor EC value increased as the moisture content increased, and low fertilizer treated soil showed the lowest EC value. Principal component analysis was performed to determine the relationship between sensor EC and available nutrients in soil. Sensor EC showed a strong positive correlation with nitrate nitrogen and available Ca. In addition, sum of available nutrients such as Ca, Mg, K, P, S and N was positively related to the sensor EC values. Therefore, EC sensors in open field can be used to predict plant available nutrient levels for proper management of the soil.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.264-276
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• 2021

Background: Salt marshes provide a variety of ecosystem services; however, they are vulnerable to human activity, water level fluctuations, and climate change. Analyses of the relationships between plant communities and environmental conditions in salt marshes are expected to provide useful information for the prediction of changes during climate change. In this study, relationships between the current vegetation structure and environmental factors were evaluated in the tidal flat at the southern tip of Ganghwa, Korea, where salt marshes are well-developed. Results: The vegetation structure in Ganghwa salt marshes was divided into three groups by cluster analysis: group A, dominated by Phragmites communis; group B, dominated by Suaeda japonica; and group C, dominated by other taxa. As determined by PERMANOVA, the groups showed significant differences with respect to altitude, soil moisture, soil organic matter, salinity, sand, clay, and silt ratios. A canonical correspondence analysis based on the percent cover of each species in the quadrats showed that the proportion of sand increased as the altitude increased and S. japonica appeared in soil with a relatively high silt proportion, while P. communis was distributed in soil with low salinity. Conclusions: The distributions of three halophyte groups differed depending on the altitude, soil moisture, salinity, and soil organic matter, sand, silt, and clay contents. Pioneer species, such as S. japonica, appeared in soil with a relatively high silt content. The P. communis community survived under a wider range of soil textures than previously reported in the literature; the species was distributed in soils with relatively low salinity, with a range expansion toward the sea in areas with freshwater influx. The observed spatial distribution patterns may provide a basis for conservation under declining salt marshes.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 1984

The growth of Calystegia japonica Choisy as affected by pH, drying, burial, soil moisture and light intensity was determined. Germination of C. japonica rhizome was not affected by pH's ranging from 4.8 to 8.7,while the greatest growth after germination was obtained at pH 5.7. Drying longer than 14 h at $35^{\circ}C$ brought about a significant reduction in percent survival and the subsequent growth of C. japonica. A significant decrease in growth of C. japonica occurred when the rhizome was buried at 0 ㎝ and deeper than 8 cm. The greatest growth was obtained when the soil moisture content reached 40 to 60% of saturated soil. Increasing percent available light resulted in decrease in the plant height, but increase in the root length and dry weight.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.228-232
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• 1994

The influence of temperature, soil depth, burial duration, and soil moisture on the germination and viability of Galium spurium L. was studied in field and laboratory. Germination and maturing date were Oct. 20 and May 30, respectively. 1000 seed weight was 1.478g and seed color was dark brown. Optimum storage temperature to break dormancy was that $5^{\circ}C$, and germination rate of $10^{\circ}C$ was 81%, seed was not germinated at $20^{\circ}C$ or greater than $20^{\circ}C$. Optimum burial depth was 2cm and emergence rate was 40%. As bural duration in upland was longer, germination rate was increased, but buried seed of paddy land was died in a month. Optimum soil moisture content for germination was 25.3% in sand loam soil however seeds were not germinated above 43.6% or below 2.1%.