• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

To calculate and predict soil carbon budget and cycle, it is important to understand the complex interrelationships involved in soil respiration rate (Rs). We attempted to reveal relationships between Rs and key environmental factors, such as soil temperature, using a laboratory incubation method. Soil samples were collected from mature deciduous (MD), mature coniferous (MC), immature deciduous (ID), and immature coniferous (IC) forests. Prior to measure, soils were pre-incubated for 3 days at $25^{\circ}C$ and 60% of maximum water holding capacity (WHC). Samples of gasses were collected with 0, 2, and 4 h interval after the beginning of the measurement at soil temperatures of 5, 15, 25, and $35^{\circ}C$ (at 60% WHC). Air samples were collected using a syringe attached to the cap of closed bottles that contained the soil samples. The $CO_2$ concentration of each gas sample was measured by gas chromatography. Rs was strongly correlated with soil temperature (r, 0.93 to 0.96; P < 0.001). For MD, MC, ID, and IC soils taken from 0-5 cm below the surface, exponential functions explained 90%, 82%, 92%, and 86% of the respective data plots. The temperature and Rs data for soil taken from 5-10 cm beneath the surface at MD, MC, ID, and IC sites also closely fit exponential functions, with 83%, 95%, 87%, and 89% of the data points, respectively, fitting an exponential curve. The soil organic content in mature forests was significantly higher than in soils from immature forests (P < 0.001 at 0-5 cm and P < 0.005 at 5-10 cm) and surface layer (P = 0.04 at 0-5 cm and P = 0.12). High soil organic matter content is clearly associated with high Rs, especially in the surface layer. We determined that the incubation method used in this study have the possibility for comprehending complex characteristic of Rs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.328-328
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• 2017

Drought is a major limiting factor that reduces rice production and occurs often especially under recent climate change. Plants have the ability to alter their developmental morphology in response to changing environment, which is known as phenotypic plasticity. In our previous studies, we found that one chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL50 derived from Nipponbare and Kasalath crosses) showed no differences in shoot and root growth as compared with the recurrent genotype, Nipponbare under non-stress condition but showed greater growth responses compared with Nipponbare under mild drought stress condition. We hypothesized that reducing root respiration as metabolic cost, which may be largely a consequence of aerenchyma formation would be one of the key mechanisms for root plasticity expression. This study aimed to evaluate the root respiration and aerenchyma formation under various soil moisture conditions among genotypes with different root plasticity. CSSL50 together with Nipponbare and Kasalath were grown under waterlogged conditions (Control) and mild drought stress conditions (20% of soil moisture content) in a plastic pot ($11cm{\times}14cm$, ${\varphi}{\times}H$) and PVC tube ($3cm{\times}30cm$, ${\varphi}{\times}H$). Root respiration rate was measured with infrared gas analyzer (IRGA, GMP343, Vaisala, Finland) with a closed static chamber system. There was no significant difference between genotypes in control for shoot and root growth as well as root respiration rate. In contrast, all the genotypes increased their root respiration rates in response to mild drought stress. However, CSSL50 showed lower root respiration rate than Nipponbare, which was associated by higher root aerenchyma formation that was estimated based on internal gas space (porosity) under mild drought stress conditions. Furthermore, there were significant negative correlations between root length and root respiration rate. These results imply that reducing the metabolic cost (= root respiration rate) is a key mechanism for root plasticity expression, which CSSL50 showed under mild drought.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.260-265
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• 2012

Soil respiration under flooded conditions is considered to be very small compared with aerobic soil respiration of soil organic matter. However, anaerobic decomposition of soil plays a key role in carbon cycling in flooded ecosystems. On the other hand, coal-ash wastes, such as fly ash and bottom ash, are known to function as a soil amendment for mitigating $CO_2$ emission and enhancing carbon sequestration in up land soils. In this study, we investigated bottom ash as a soil amendment for mitigating $CO_2$ emission, and thus enhancing carbon sequestration under anaerobic conditions. We observed that amendment of bottom ash without external organic source led to significant reduction in $CO_2$ emission rate and in total cumulative $CO_2$ emission flux over the incubation period, which was proportional to the amount of bottom ash applied. We also found that soil microbial biomass increased in response to application of bottom ash. These results suggest that bottom ash can be utilized to store $CO_2$ as a stable soil organic carbon in flooded ecosystems, as in aerobic situations.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2018

Background: For various reasons such as agricultural and economical purposes, land-use changes are rapidly increasing not only in Korea but also in the world, leading to shifts in the characteristics of local carbon cycle. Therefore, in order to understand the large-scale ecosystem carbon cycle, it is necessary first to understand vegetation on this local scale. As a result, it is essential to comprehend change of the carbon balance attributed by the land-use changes. In this study, we attempt to understand accumulated soil carbon (ASC) and soil respiration (Rs) related to carbon cycle in two ecosystems, artificially turned forest into pastureland from forest and a native deciduous temperate forest, resulted from different land-use in the same area. Results: Rs were shown typical seasonal changes in the alpine pastureland (AP) and temperate deciduous forest (TDF). The annual average Rs was $160.5mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ in the AP, but it was $405.1mg\;CO_2\;m^{-2}h^{-1}$ in the TDF, indicating that the Rs in the AP was lower about 54% than that in the TDF. Also, ASC in the AP was $124.49Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$ from litter layer to 30-cm soil depth. The ASC was about $88.9Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, and it was 71.5% of that of the AP. The temperature factors in the AP was high about $4^{\circ}C$ on average compared to the TDF. In AP, it was observed high amount of sunlight entering near the soil surface which is related to high soil temperature is due to low canopy structure. This tendency is due to the smaller emission of organic carbon that is accumulated in the soil, which means a higher ASC in the AP compared to the TDF. Conclusions: The artificial transformation of natural ecosystems into different ecosystems is proceeding widely in the world as well as Korea. The change in land-use type is caused to make the different characteristics of carbon cycle and storage in same region. For evaluating and predicting the carbon cycle in the vegetation modified by the human activity, it is necessary to understand the carbon cycle and storage characteristics of natural ecosystems and converted ecosystems. In this study, we studied the characteristics of ecosystem carbon cycle using different forms in the same region. The land-use changes from a TDF to AP leads to changes in dominant vegetation. Removal of canopy increased light and temperature conditions and slightly decreased SMC during the growing season. Also, land-use change led to an increase of ASC and decrease of Rs in AP. In terms of ecosystem carbon sequestration, AP showed a greater amount of carbon stored in the soil due to sustained supply of above-ground liters and lower degradation rate (soil respiration) than TDF in the high mountains. This shows that TDF and AP do not have much difference in terms of storage and circulation of carbon because the amount of carbon in the forest biomass is stored in the soil in the AP.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.425-436
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• 2015

The carbon cycle came into the spotlight due to the climate change and forests are well-known for their capacity to store carbon amongst other terrestrial ecosystems. The annual organic carbon of litter production, forest floor litter layer, soil, aboveground and belowground part of plant, standing biomass, net primary production, uptake of organic carbon, soil respiration, etc. were measured in Mt. Worak in order to understand the production and carbon budget of Quercus serrata forest that are widely spread in the central and southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The total amount of organic carbon of Q. serrata forest during the study period (2010-2013) was 130.745 ton C ha^-1. The aboveground part of plant, belowground part of plant, forest floor litter layer, and organic carbon in soil was 50.041, 12.510, 4.075, and 64.119 ton C ha^-1, respectively. The total average of carbon fixation in plants from photosynthesis was 4.935 ton C ha^-1 yr^-1 and organic carbon released from soil respiration to microbial respiration was 3.972 ton C ha^-1 yr^-1. As a result, the net ecosystem production of Q. serrata forest estimated from carbon fixation and soil respiration was 0.963 ton C ha^-1 yr^-1. Therefore, it seems that Q. serrata forest can act as a sink that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. The carbon uptake of Q. serrata forest was highest in stem of the plant and the research site had young forest which had many trees with small diameter at breast height (DBH). Consequentially, it seems that active matter production and vigorous carbon dioxide assimilation occurred in Q. serrata forest and these results have proven to be effective for Q. serrata forest to play a role as carbon storage and NEP.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2006

This study was conducted to evaluate forest carbon cycling and soil $CO_2$ efflux rates in a 42-year-old pine (Pinus densiflora) stand located in Hamyang-gun, Korea. Aboveground and soil organic carbon storage, litterfall, litter decomposition, and soil $CO_2$ efflux rates were measured for one year. Estimated aboveground biomass carbon storage and increment in this stand were $3,250gC/m^2\;and\;156gC\;m^{-2}yr^{-1}$, respectively. Soil organic carbon storage at the depth of 30 cm was $10,260gC/m^2$ Mean organic carbon inputs by needle and total litterfall were $176gC\;m^{-2}yr^{-1}\;and\;235gC\;m^{-2}yr^{-1}$, respectively. Litter decomposition rates were faster in nne roots less than 2 mm diameter size ($<220\;g\;kg^{-1}yr^{-1}$) than in needle litter ($<120\;g\;kg^{-1}yr^{-1}$). Annual mean and total soil respiration rates were $0.37g\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ and $2,732g\;CO_2m^{-2}yr^{-1}$ during the study period. A strong positive relationship existed between soil $CO_2$ efflux and soil temperature (r=0.8149), while soil $CO_2$ efflux responded negatively to soil pH (r=-0.3582).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.259-264
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• 2016

The effect of biochar application on soil physics and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) emission from upland soil for broccoli cultivation was investigated. Sesame straw biochar (SB) was applied at amounts 0 (IF), 50 (SB50), 100 (SB100), 200 (SB200) kg $10a^{-1}$, respectively. SB addition to the upland soil decreased bulk density, and increased porosity and soil respiration. The $N_2O$ emission rates in all treatments were higher in the order of IF $${\geq_-}$$ SB50 > SB100 $${\geq_-}$$ SB200 treatments. Global warming potential in SB200 treatment decreased by 15.1% compared to IF treatment. Therefore, SB application in upland soil can improve soil physics and reduce $N_2O$ emission.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.151-163
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• 2022

This study was conducted to promote organic fertilizer(s) that sustain soil productivity for corn production and protect the environment as required by the Act on the promotion of eco-friendly agriculture. It was conducted at the research station of the Organic Agriculture Division of the National Institute of Agricultural. The treatments consisted of Compost (Com), Bokashi as fermented organic fertilizer (FOF), and mixed expeller pressed cake (PC). They were applied at 174 kg N /ha to field corn, together with a 'no fertilizer' check in Randomized Complete Block Design. At eight weeks after transplanting (WAT) corn, compost increased soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to 7.48 and 0.76 g/kg respectively, while other fertilizers maintained the initial levels (before treatment application). At corn harvest (13 WAT), soil chemical properties (total C, total N, pH, electrical conductivity, P₂O₅, Ca, K, and Mg) were similar among all organic fertilizer treatments. For soil respiration, FOF increased soil CO₂ respiration by 31-76% above other fertilizer treatments. However, there were no prominent changes in the trends of CH₄ fluxes following the two mechanical weeding operations. Fermented organic fertilizer affected N₂O emissions between 87-96% lower than other fertilizer treatments. Compared to the initial microbial densities, FOF increased fungi and actinomycete colony foming unit by 25 and 16% at harvest. Therefore, the additional potential of improving soil biological fertility and local availability of raw materials make FOF a better option to sustain soil productivity while protecting the environment.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2010

Soil respiration ($R_S$) is a critical component of the annual carbon balance of forests, but few studies thus far have attempted to evaluate empirical regression models in $R_S$. The principal objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between $R_S$ rates and soil temperature (ST) and soil water content (SWC) in soil from a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest, and to evaluate empirical regression models for the prediction of $R_S$ using ST and SWC. We have been measuring $R_S$, using an open-flow gas-exchange system with an infrared gas analyzer during the snowfree season from 1999 to 2001 at the Takayama Forest, Japan. To evaluate the empirical regression models used for the prediction of $R_S$, we compared a simple exponential regression (flux = $ae^{bt}$Eq. [1]) and two polynomial multiple-regression models (flux = $ae^{bt}{\times}({\theta}{\nu}-c){\times}(d-{\theta}{\nu})^f:$ Eq. [2] and flux = $ae^{bt}{\times}(1-(1-({\theta}{\nu}/c))^2)$: Eq. [3]) that included two variables (ST: t and SWC: ${\theta}{\nu}$) and that utilized hourly data for $R_S$. In general, daily mean $R_S$ rates were positively well-correlated with ST, but no significant correlations were observed with any significant frequency between the ST and $R_S$ rates on periods of a day based on the hourly $R_S$ data. Eq. (2) has many more site-specific parameters than Eq. (3) and resulted in some significant underestimation. The empirical regression, Eq. (3) was best explained by temporal variations, as it provided a more unbiased fit to the data compared to Eq. (2). The Eq. (3) (ST $\times$ SWC function) also increased the predictive ability as compared to Eq. (1) (only ST exponential function), increasing the $R^2$ from 0.71 to 0.78.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.411-423
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• 2011

This study was conducted to quantify soil $CO_2$ efflux using the continuous measurement method and to examine the applicability of an automatic continuous measurement system in a Korean deciduous broad-leaved forest. Soil respiration rate (Rs) was assessed through continuous measurements during the 2004-2005 full growing seasons using an automatic opening/closing chamber system in sections of a Gwangneung temperate deciduous forest, Korea. The study site was an old-growth natural mixed deciduous forest approximately 80 years old. For each full growth season, the annual Rs, which had a gap that was filled with data using an exponential function derived from soil temperature (Ts) at 5-cm depth, and Rs values collected in each season were 2,738.1 g $CO_2$ $m^{-2}y^{-1}$ in 2004 and 3,355.1 g $CO_2$ $m^{-2}y^{-1}$ in 2005. However, the diurnal variation in Rs showed stronger correlations with Ts (r = 0.91, P < 0.001 in 2004, r = 0.87, P < 0.001 in 2005) and air temperature (Ta) (r = 0.84, P < 0.001 in 2004, r = 0.79, P < 0.001 in 2005) than with deep Ts during the spring season. However, the temperature functions derived from the Ts at various depths of 0, -2, -5, -10, and -20 cm revealed that the correlation coefficient decreased with increasing soil depth in the spring season, whereas it increased in the summer. Rs showed a weak correlation with precipitation (r = 0.25, P < 0.01) and soil water content (r = 0.28, P < 0.05). Additionally, the diurnal change in Rs revealed a higher correlation with Ta than that of Ts. The $Q_{10}$ values from spring to winter were calculated from each season's dataset and were 3.2, 1.5, 7.4, and 2.7 in 2004 and 6.0, 3.1, 3.0, and 2.6 in 2005; thus, showing high fluctuation within each season. The applicability of an automatic continuous system was demonstrated for collecting a high resolution soil $CO_2$ efflux dataset under various environmental conditions.