• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.21-26
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• 2018

Soil-water characteristic curve, which is called soil retention curve, is required to explore water flows in unsaturated soils, relative permeability of water in multi-phase fluids flow, and change to stiffness and volume of soils. Thus, the understanding of soil-water characteristic curves of soils help us explore the behavior of soils inclduing fluids. Biopolymers are environmental-friendly materials, which can be completely degraded by microbes and have been believed not to affect the nature. Thus, various biopolymers such as deacetylated power, polyethylene oxide, xanthan gum, alginic acid sodium salt, and polyacrylic acid have been studies for the application to soil remediation, soil improvement, and enhanced oil recovery. PAA (polyacrylic acid) is one of biopolymers, which have shown a great effect in enhanced oil recovery as well as soil remediation because of the improvement of water-flood performance by mobility control. The study on soil-water characteristic curves of sandy soils containing PAA (polyacrylic acid) has been conducted through experimentations and theoretical models. The results show that both capillary entry pressure and residual water saturation dramatically increase according to the increased concentration of PAA (polyacrylic acid). Also, soil-water characteristic curves by theoretical models are quite well consistent with the results by experimental studies. Thus, soil-water characteristic curves of sandy soils containing biopolymers such as PAA (polyacrylic acid) can be estimated using fitting parameters for the theoretical model.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.973-983
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• 2020

Recently, SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) is being highlighted as a solution to the coarse spatial resolution of remote sensing data in water resources research field. Spatial resolution up to 10 m of SAR backscattering coefficient has facilitated more elaborate analyses of the spatial distribution of soil moisture, compared to existing satellite-based coarse resolution (>10 km) soil moisture data. It is essential, however, to multilaterally analyze how various hydrological and environmental factors affect the backscattering coefficient, to utilize the data. In this study, soil moisture estimated by WCM (Water Cloud Model) and linear regression is compared with in-situ soil moisture data at 5 soil moisture observatories in the Korean peninsula. WCM shows suitable estimates for observing instant changes in soil moisture. However, it needs to be adjusted in terms of errors. Soil moisture estimated from linear regression shows a stable error range, but it cannot capture instant changes. The result also shows that the effect of soil moisture on backscattering coefficients differs greatly by land cover, distribution of vegetation, and water content of vegetation, hence that there're still limitations to apply preexisting models directly. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze variable effects from different environments and establish suitable soil moisture model, to apply SAR to water resources fields in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.37-47
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• 2017

In this study, we analyzed the variability of irrigation water amounts based on the combination of various crops and soil textures using the Irrigation Water Management Model (IWMM). IWMM evaluates the degree of agricultural drought using the Soil Moisture Deficit Index (SMDI). When crops are damaged by the water scarcity under the drought condition indicating that the SMDI values are in negative (SMDI<0), IWMM irrigates appropriate water amounts that can shift the negative SMDI values to "0" to crop fields. To test the IWMM model, we selected the Bandong-ri (BDR) and Jucheon (JC) sites in Gangwon-do and Jeollabuk-do provinces. We derived the soil hydraulic properties using the near-surface data assimilation scheme form the Time Domain Reflectrometry (TDR)-based soil moisture measurements. The daily root zone soil moisture dynamics (R: 0.792/0.588 and RMSE: 0.013/0.018 for BDR/JC) estimated by the derived soil parameters were matched well with the TDR-based measurements for validation. During the long-term (2001~2015) period, IWMM irrigated the minimum water amounts to crop fields, while there were no irrigation events during the rainy days. Also, Sandy Loam (SL) and Silt (Si) soils require more irrigation water amounts than others, while the irrigation water were higher in the order of radish, wheat, soybean, and potato, respectively. Thus, the IWMM model can provide efficient irrigation water amounts to crop fields and be useful for regions at where limited water resources are available.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.377-384
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• 2000

The characteristics and prediction model of the shear strength for unsaturated residual soils was studied. In order to investigate the influence of the initial water content on the shear strength, unsaturated triaxial tests were carried out varying the initial water content, and the applicability of existing prediction models for the unsaturated shear strength was testified. It was shown that the soil - water characteristic curve and the shear strength of the unsaturated soil varied with the change of the initial water content. A sample compacted in the lower initial water content needs a higher suction to get the same degree of saturation while the shear strength of a sample with the lower initial water content displays a lower value. In order to apply the existing prediction models of the unsaturated shear strength to granite residual soils, a correction coefficient, α, on the internal friction angle, ø'was added.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.95-102
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to compare the degradation characteristics by subcritical water of RDX contaminated soil using batch mode and dynamic mode devices. First, upon application of RDX contaminated soil, RDX treatment efficiency was increased with increasing the temperature in both modes. At 150℃, the treatment efficiency was 99.9%. RDX degradation efficiency got higher with lower ratio of solid to liquid. However, the treatment efficiency in the dynamic mode tended to be decreased at a certain ratio of solid to liquid or lower. The treatment efficiency was increased when it took longer time for the reactions in both modes. As the results of analysis on concentration of treated water after subcritical water degradation, the RDX recovery rate of dynamic and batch modes at 150℃ was 10.5% and 1.5%, respectively. However, both modes showed very similar recovery rates at 175℃ or higher. RDX degradation products were analyzed in treated water after it was treated with subcritical water. According to the results, RDX degradation mechanism was mostly oxidation reaction and reduction reaction was partially involved. Therefore, it suggested that most of RDX in soil was degraded by oxidation of subcritical water upon extraction. According to this result, it was found that both batch and dynamic modes were very effectively applied in the treatment of explosive contaminated soil.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.585-593
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• 1994

This study was conducted to know optimum ground water level for maize(Suwon 19) and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid(Pioneer855F) and investigated effect of different soil types and ground water levels on growth of above two crops at containers were controlled so as to be 25, 35, 50, 70 and 100cm from the soil surface. Both crops showed better growth in sandy loam soil. Optimum ground water level for maize was l00cm and for sorghum-sudangrass hybrid was 70cm in sandy loam soil. Clay loam was unfavorable for both crops even though low ground water level maintained. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrid was adapted better to clay loam soil and high ground water levels. In microscopic study on root anatomy of both crops, destructed cortical tissues were observed. Frequency of the tissues was higher in maize than in sorghum-sudangrass hybrid and higher at mid or tip parts than basal parts of roots in both crops. Arrangement of cortical cells of roots in sorghum-sudangrass hybrid were more regular than those of maize. In root anatomy, no consistent trend with soil types or ground water levels was detcted.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2015

As livestock manure treatment is becoming a problem, manure application in forest plantation is recommended as an alternative. In this study, to investigate the impact due to liquid manure application in forest plantation, soil, soil water and shallow groundwater quality had been monitored in poplar experimental site where the liquid manure (LM) was applied. Water samples were collected weekly during growing season (April to October) from 2008 to 2011. From the monitoring results, phosphorus concentration in the soil and soil water had no significant difference between LM and control plots. $NO_3$-N concentration of soil water in LM, however, showed higher concentration (13.6 mg/l at 40 cm, 35.1 mg/l at 80 cm) than control plot (1.5 mg/l at 40 cm, 0.5 mg/l at 80 cm). In case of shallow groundwater quality, pH, heavy metal, etc. were satisfied to the national agricultural water quality standard of groundwater and there were no significant difference between upstream and downstream. The $NO_3$-N concentration of shallow groundwater was also not exceeded the national drinking water standard. However, $NO_3$-N concentration in soil water and downstream of shallow groundwater had increased in 2011 when non-composted LM was applied mostly in non-growing season of tree (September). From the results, it is important to control nitrogen source, application time and decomposed or not when LM is applied. In addition, to investigate nitrate source, further long-term monitoring and modelling could be necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Currently, urban green space is disappearing due to urbanization, industrialization and various environmental problems including the disruption of the ecology in urban areas. To solve such problems and increase urban green area, roof greening has been suggested as an alternative. Through observing the responses of three plant species (Mukdenia rossii, Dianthus chinensis, and Pachysandra terminalis) plantrd on the soil mixed with Geohumus, this study investigated the effect of Gehumus on soil water content and plant survival. Soil water content of the rooftop soils has been increased when mixed with Geohumus. The responses were proportional to the amount of Geohumus in the mixture. Geohumus exerted a stronger influence on raising soil moisture content for soil A which had lower water-holding capacity. The stress responses of the plants varied in relation to the amount of Geohumus and soil moisture content. The stress response was lowest for Dianthus chinensis and increased in the order of Mukdenia rossii and Pachysandra terminalis. With the highest plant stress, Pachysandra terminalis showed the lowest survival rate among the three species. Without irrigation, the plants survived only for six weeks on green roofs. The survival rate differed depending on the amount of Geohumus mixed. The results of the experiment showed, with some exceptions, that Geohumus helped to improve soil water content, reduce plant stress, and extend plant survival period.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 2017

Crop production in rice paddy fields is of great importance because of declining rice consumption and the low self-sufficiency ratio for field crops in Korea. A controlled drainage system (CDS) is recognized as an effective means to adjust water table (WT) levels as needed and control soil water content to improve the soil environment for optimum crop growth. The present study evaluated the effects of a CDS on soil characteristics, including soil water distribution and soybean development in paddy fields. The CDS was installed with two drain spacing (3 m and 6 m) at the experimental paddy field at the National Institute of Crop Science, Miryang, Korea. It was managed with two WT levels (0.3 m and 0.6 m) during the growing season. Soil water content, electrical conductivity and plant available nitrogen content in the soil were significantly greater in the 0.3 m WT management plots than in the 0.6 m plot and the control. At the vegetative stage, chlorophyll content was significantly lower with higher WT control because of excess soil moisture, but it recovered after the flowering stage. Soybean yield increased with WT management and the 0.6 m WT treatment produced the greatest grain yield, $3.38ton\;ha^{-1}$, which was 50% greater than that of the control. The CDS directly influenced outflow through the drains, which significantly delayed nutrient loss. The results of this study indicated that WT management by CDS can influence soil characteristics and it is an important practice for high yielding soybean production in paddy fields, which should be considered the crop growth stages for stable crop production.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.373-383
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the corrosion damage of large diameter metallic pipes buried in reclaimed land due to the corrosion effect by soil, and to propose a method of installing metal pipes in the reclaimed land. The results are as follow. First, the soil of the reclaimed land was gray clay, the soil specific resistance indicating soil corrosiveness was at least 120 Ω-cm, the pH was weakly acidic(5.04 to 5.60), the redox potential was at least 62 mV, the moisture content was at most 48.8%, and chlorine ions and sulfate ions were up to 4,706.1 mg/kg and 420 mg/kg. Therefore, the overall soil corrosivity score was up to 19, and the external corrosion effect seems to be very large. Second, the condition of straight part of pipes was in good condition, but most of KP joints were affected by corrosion at a severe level. The reason for this seems to be that KP joints accelerated corrosion due to stress and crevice corrosion in addition to galvanic corrosion in the same environment. Third, as a result of evaluating correlations of each item that affects the corrosion on the external part, the lower the soil resistivity and redox potential, the greater the effect on the KP joints corrosion, and the moisture content, chloride ion, and sulfate ion, the higher the value, the greater the effect on the corrosion of KP joints. In addition, among soil corrosion items, the coefficient of determination of soil resistivity with corrosion of KP joints was the highest with 0.6439~0.7672. Fourth, when installing metal pipes or other accessories because the soil of the reclaimed land is highly corrosive, it is necessary to apply a corrosion preventive method to extend the life of pipes and prevent leakage accidents caused by corrosion damage to the joint.