• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.630-646
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• 2020

In rural areas, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) pollution caused by agricultural activities is a major obstacle to the use of shallow groundwater as domestic water or drinking water. In this study, the water quality characteristics of shallow groundwater in Hyogyo-ri agricultural area of Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do province was studied in connection with land use and chemical composition of soil layer. The average NO3-N concentration in groundwater exceeds the domestic and agricultural standard water qualities of Korea and is caused by anthropogenic sources such as fertilizer, livestock wastewater, and domestic sewage. The groundwater type mainly belongs to Ca(Na)-Cl type, unlike Ca-HCO3 type, a general type of shallow groundwater. The average NO3-N concentration (7.7 mg L-1) in groundwater in rice paddy/other (upstream, ranch, and residential) area is lower than the average concentration (22.8 mg L-1) in farm field area, due to a lower permeability in paddy area than that in farm field area. According to the trend analysis by the Mann-Kendall and Sen tests, the NO3-N concentration in the shallow groundwater shows a very weak decreasing trend with ~0.011 mg L-1yr-1 with indicating almost equilibrium state. Meanwhile, SO42- and HCO3- concentrations display annual decreasing trend by 15.48 and 13.15%, respectively. At a zone of 0 to 5 m below the surface, the average hydraulic conductivity is 1.86×10-5 cm s-1, with a greater value (1.03×10-4cm s-1) in sand layer and a smaller value (2.50×10-8 cm s-1) in silt layer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-79
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• 2023

Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, one of the representative small rain regions, has developed a traditional irrigation farming system while overcoming and adapting to unfavorable agricultural environments from the days of the ancient nation of Jomunguk to the present. In 2018, its value was recognized and designated as Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage System No. 10. This study was conducted with the purpose of examining the characteristics of the traditional irrigation farming system in Uiseong from the viewpoints of irrigation facilities, irrigation communities, and agricultural activities. The research results are as follows. Uiseong-gun has been expanding irrigation facilities for agriculture since long ago, and it has been investigated that a total of 6,227 irrigation facilities are currently distributed along the Wicheon water system that crosses Uiseong-gun from east to west. Irrigation facilities appear differently depending on the topography. The irrigation facility has a 'su-tong' as an irrigation passage and a corkscrew structure 'mot-tchong' as a water quantity control device, so the amount of water was adjusted as needed. Through this facility, surface water with warmer temperature is supplied to the farmland to prevent cold damage to crops. Uiseong has developed activities to organize irrigation communities in one village or several villages to secure agricultural water from an early age. Currently, this tradition continues, and a total of 213 irrigation communities manage 375 irrigation facilities (6.0% of all irrigation facilities). Through this organization, called Mong-ri-gye, water for agriculture is obtained, managed, and distributed equitably. In order to increase agricultural production, Uiseong implemented double cropping by converting rice fields and fields. In the case of Mt. Geumseong, double cropping of rice and barley was mainly carried out until the 1970s, but since the 1980s, double cropping of rice and garlic has been implemented with higher income. One of the unique features of the agricultural system of this region is the spectacular landscape that changes simultaneously from field to rice field in spring and from rice field to field in autumn.