• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2010

Nutrient availability is a critical component of agroecosystems, and is relevant to both above- and below- ground interactions. The principal objective of this study was to determine how the cessation of fertilization affects the communities of weeds and soil organisms in a corn/wheat field. Changes in dominant weed species, substrate-induced respiration, and the population density of nematodes and microarthropods were evaluated. Microbial substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and the population density of microarthropods decreased following the cessation of fertilization and were partly correlated with the aboveground weed biomass. The cessation of organic fertilizer application but continuing application of inorganic fertilizer reduced the population density of nematodes. In response to the cessation of fertilization, weed communities were dominated by species with little dependency on fertilization. Amaranthus retroflexus was identified as the most dominant species in the corn field; however, it was replaced by Digitaria ciliaris after the cessation of fertilization. In the wheat field, the cessation of fertilization led to a rapid reduction in the biomass of most weeds, except for Vicia angustifolia, supposedly as the result of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Additionally, the fact that weed biomass was partially correlated with SIR or the population density of microarthropods may reflect a mutual feedback between soil organisms and weeds. The results indicate that the cessation of fertilization alters communities of weeds and soil organisms through changes in weed biomass and interactions with symbiotic microorganisms.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2014

This research reports the effects of shifting cultivation on soil environment collecting samples from 0-5 cm soil depth from five locations viz. at Burburichhara, Maichchari, Longadu, Sukurchhari and Muralipara in Rangamati district of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs). Soil analyses showed that fungal and bacterial population, microbial respiration and active microbial biomass, maximum water holding capacity, conductivity and moisture contents were significantly (at least $p{\leq}0.05$) lower in shifting cultivated soil compared to adjacent mixed tree plantations at all the sites. On an average in soils of 5 different shifting cultivated lands fungal population was $1.33{\times}10^5$ CFU/g dry soil and bacterial population $1.80{\times}10^7$ CFU/g dry soil and in mixed plantations fungal population was $1.70{\times}10^5$ and bacterial population $2.51{\times}10^7$ CFU/g dry soil. Organic matter and exchangeable Ca and Mg contents were significantly (at least $p{\leq}0.05$) lower and bulk density significantly (at least $p{\leq}0.05$) higher in shifting cultivated land in most of the locations compared to adjacent mixed tree plantations. Ratios of microbial respiration and organic carbon as well as active microbial biomass and organic carbon were distinctly lower and pH higher at 3 locations in shifting cultivated soils compared to mixed plantations. Findings of various soil properties, therefore, suggest that shifting cultivation has deteriorating effects on soil environment.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.84-84
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• 2019

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.345-351
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• 2015

This study was conducted to find out the methodology of carbon budget assessment among soil, atmosphere and plant. Soil respiration, net ecosystem productivity of herbs and net ecosystem productivity of woody plants have been measured in 30 years old pear orchard at Naju. Closed Dynamic Chamber (CDC) method was used to measure soil respiration and net ecosystem productivity of herbs. Net ecosystem productivity of woody plant (pear) was determined by eddy covariance method using the EddyPro (5.2.1) program. As for soil respiration, $429.1mgCO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ was released to atmosphere and sensitivity of soil temperature ($Q_{10}$) was 2.3. In case of herbs, respiration was superior to photosynthesis during measurement period. From 20 to 24 Jun 2015, the sum of absorbed and released $CO_2$ by herb's photosynthesis and respiration was $156.1mgCO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$. Woody plants showed the $680.1mgCO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ of absorption by photosynthesis. In a farm scale, the sum of soil respiration, and net ecosystem productivity of herbs and woody plants was $0.04tonCO_2ha^{-1}$ during the measurement period, and it showed that pear orchard act as a $CO_2$ sink. This study using various approaches is expected to present a methodology for evaluating the carbon budget of perennial woody crop plantations.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.288-288
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• 2011

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2018

Background: Studying the ecosystem carbon cycle requires analysis of interrelationships between soil respiration (Rs) and the environment to evaluate the balance. Various methods and instruments have been used to measure Rs. The closed chamber method, which is currently widely used to determine Rs, creates a closed space on the soil surface, measures $CO_2$ concentration in the inner space, and calculates Rs from the increase. Accordingly, the method is divided into automatic or manual chamber methods (ACM and MCM, respectively). However, errors of these methods and differences in instruments are unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the characteristics and difference of Rs values calculated using both methods with actual data. Results: Both methods determined seasonal variation patterns of Rs, reflecting overall changes in soil temperature (Ts). ACM clearly showed detailed changes in Rs, but MCM did not, because such small changes are unknown as Rs values are collected monthly. Additionally, Rs measured using MCM was higher than that using ACM and differed depending on measured plots, but showed similar tendencies with all measurement times and plots. Contrastingly, MCM Rs values in August for plot 4 were very high compared with ACM Rs values because of soil disturbances that easily occur during MCM measurements. Comparing Rs values calculated using monthly means with those calculated using MCM, the ACM calculated values for monthly averages were higher or lower than those of similar measurement times using the MCM. The difference between the ACM and MCM was attributed to greater or lesser differences. These Rs values estimated the carbon released into the atmosphere during measurement periods to be approximately 57% higher with MCM than with ACM, at 5.1 and $7.9C\;ton\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Conclusion: ACM calculated average values based on various Rs values as high and low for measurement periods, but the MCM produced only specific values for measurement times as representative values. Therefore, MCM may exhibit large errors in selection differences during Rs measurements. Therefore, to reduce this error using MCM, the time and frequency of measurement should be set to obtain Rs under various environmental conditions. Contrastingly, the MCM measurement is obtained during $CO_2$ evaluation in the soil owing to soil disturbance caused by measuring equipment, so close attention should be paid to measurements. This is because the measurement process is disturbed by high $CO_2$ soil concentration, and even small soil disturbances could release high levels into the chamber, causing large Rs errors. Therefore, the MCM should be adequately mastered before using the device to measure Rs.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.54-63
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• 2007

To examine the effects of amendments on heavy mineral oil degradation, a pilot scale experiment was conducted for over 105days. During the experiment, soil samples were collected and analyzed periodically for the determination of residual hydrocarbon and microbial activities. At the end of the experiment, the initial level of contamination ($6,205{\pm}173mgkg^{-1}$) was reduced by $33{\sim}45%$ in the amendment amended soil; whereas only 8% of the hydrocarbon was eliminated in the non-amended soil. Heavy mineral oil degradation was much faster and more complete in compost amended soils. Enhanced dissipation of heavy mineral oil in compost amended soil might be derived from increased microbial activities (respiration, microbial biomass-C) and soil enzyme activity(lipase, dehydrogenase, and FDA hydrolase) were strongly correlated with heavy mineral oil biodegradaton (P < 0.01).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2009

This study attempted to compare the litter decomposition rate of Arundinella hirta and Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens which collected from serpentine soil acting potentially toxic concentration of heavy metals and non-serpentine soil by using the microcosm method for 192 days under constant humidity and $23^{\circ}C$. The contents of Ni, Fe, Mg and Cr in the serpentine and nonserpentine soil originated litter showed high differences between them. The litter samples from serpentine site have lower C/N than non-serpentine litter, but the soluble carbohydrate content was shown almost similar between two plant litter. The mass loss rates of leaf litter from serpentine area were slower than those from non-serpentine site. During the experimental period, the remained dry weight of A. hirta and M. sinensis var. purpurascens litter collected from serpentine site were 64.7%, 65.0% of initial dry weight and litter samples from non-serpentine site showed 54.2%, 50.7%, respectively. K and Na were leached rapidly at the initial decomposition periods, but Ca showed immobilization and other metal elements reserved at the decomposing litter for a long time. The decomposing A. hirta litter from non-serpentine soil showed higher values of $CO_2$ evolution, microbial biomass-C, and microbial biomass-N than those in serpentine soil originated litter acting nutrient stresses and exhibited rapid decay rate. The microbial biomass and microbial respiration of decaying litter were positively correlated with litter decomposition rate, and these relationships showed more rapid slope in non-serpentine soil originated litter than that in serpentine soil.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.554-561
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• 2017

Under the projected global warming, release of carbon as $CO_2$ through soil organic matter decomposition is expected to increase. Therefore, accurate measurement of $CO_2$ released from soil is crucial in understanding the soil carbon dynamics under increased temperature conditions. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) traps are frequently used in laboratory soil incubation studies to measure soil respiration rate, but decreasing $CO_2$ gas solubility with increasing temperature may render the reliability of the method questionable. In this study, the influences of increasing temperature on the $CO_2$ capture capacity of NaOH traps were evaluated under $5{\sim}35^{\circ}C$ temperature range at $10^{\circ}C$ interval. Two closed-chamber experiments were performed where NaOH traps were used to capture $CO_2$ either released from acidified $Na_2CO_3$ solution or directly injected into the chamber. The sorption of ambient $CO_2$ within the incubators into NaOH traps was also measured. The amount $CO_2$ captured increased as temperature increased within 2 days of incubation, suggesting that increased diffusion rate of $CO_2$ at higher temperatures led to increases in $CO_2$ captured by the NaOH traps. However, after 2 days, over 95% of $CO_2$ emitted in the emission-absorption experiment was captured regardless of temperature, demonstrating high $CO_2$ absorption efficiency of the NaOH traps. Thus, we conclude that the influence of decreased $CO_2$ solubility by increased temperatures is negligible on the $CO_2$ capture capacity of NaOH traps, supporting that the use of NaOH traps in the study of temperature effect on soil respiration is a valid method.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.170-176
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• 2008

Organic carbon distribution and carbon budget of a Quercus variabilis forest in the Youngha valley of Mt. Worak National Park were investigated. Carbon in above and below ground standing biomass, litter layer, and soil organic carbon were measured from 2005 through 2006. For the estimation of carbon budget, soil respiration was measured. The amount of carbon allocated to above- and below-ground biomass was 56.22 and 13.90 ton C ha$^{-1}$. Amount of organic carbon in annual litterfall was 2.33 ton C ha$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$. Amount of soil organic carbon within 50 cm soil depth was 119.14 ton C ha$^{-1}$ 50 cm-depth$^{-1}$. Total amount of organic carbon in this Q. variabilis forest was 193.96 ton C ha$^{-1}$. Of these, 61.43% of organic carbon was allocated in the soil. Net increase of organic carbon in above- and below-ground biomass in this Q. variabilis forest was estimated to 7.68 ton C ha$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$. The amount of carbon evolved through soil respiration was 6.21 ton C ha$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$. Net amount of 1.47 ton C ha$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$ was absorbed from the atmosphere by this Q. variabilis forest.