• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.543-555
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• 2015

The existing standard for soil erosion risk assessment has limitations in sustainable topsoil management since the fixed criteria are applied to determination of soil erosion risk areas regardless of land use types. It may not be necessary to apply soil erosion best management practices to agricultural areas with high potential of soil erosion because human or economic damage derived from soil erosion might be tiny in that region. Furthermore, the fixed criterion with absolute values can select too many hot spots of soil erosion to conduct efficient soil erosion management. Thus, objective of this study was to suggest the relative criteria using statistical analysis for efficient soil erosion management. In future, the relative indices for soil erosion prevention should be improved to provide a priority of soil erosion management considering economic damage from soil erosion or functional values of soil with quantitative soil erosion. Additional researches will be needed to reflect a regional characteristics and to consider various land use types and different criteria.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.731-739
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• 2021

This research aimed to analyze the characteristics of topsoil for soil conservation and promote the process of turning subsoil into topsoil. The physicochemical characteristics of topsoil and subsoil of different types of soil were compared, and their quantitative differences were examined. 204 soil samples were collected from a total of 102 areas according to rock types. These samples were tested to measure grain size, water content, and unit weight, along with XRF and XRD analyses. The topsoil and subsoil of the soil samples were also analyzed. The results of this research showed that the topsoil and subsoil had different physical characteristics, and that the chemical alteration index of the topsoil was higher than that of the subsoil. This would imply that the topsoil was high in clay minerals since it was directly affected by weathering more than the subsoil. In particular, vermiculite, one of the final products generated from weathering, was common in the topsoil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2014

The study aims to investigate and analyze actual situations of managing topsoil at forest development sites based on their types, in pursuit of conservation and effective use of national land. To do this, I selected target areas by deducting the typical types of forest development and analyzed the condition of soil at the target areas before and after development. In addition to this, I interviewed associated construction staffs to conduct study on present situations of topsoil management and find out its problems. I also surveyed of relevant experts, with the intention of seeking solutions. The results of the study have been shown that firstly, experts preferred collecting and recycling of topsoil as methods of improvement of soil conditions for plant growth. Secondly, the importance of topsoil has been well noticed and there were few construction sites using the methods. However, working and economical problems have disturbed carrying out these solutions. Thirdly, after constructions, organic matter and total-nitrogen content decreased in general which were necessary for plant growth in terms of soil conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2013

This study aimed to research and analyze the real condition of topsoil management of river development field as a significant case among domestic development fields for topsoil preservation. Through survey with experts, we understood the real condition and problems of topsoil management during river development. In order to verify this, we analyzed the characteristics of soil before and after development focusing on the rivers recently completed as an ecological river restoration project, supervised by Ministry of Environment among domestic river improvement projects. The study results are like below. First, experts preferred collecting and reusing topsoil as the best method to maintain and improve soil for plant growth. Second, realistically collecting and reusing topsoil is not fully conducted due to economical issues and inconvenience in construction. In the soil condition, third, the contents of elements necessary for plant growth like organic matter and total nitrogen declined overall after development.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2016

In this study, vegetation succession and the rate of consequent topsoil development were investigated in shallow landslide scars of sedimentary rock slopes covered by volcanic ashes and pumice in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan. Seven shallow landslide scars of different ages were selected as study areas. In the initial period after the occurrence of a shallow landslide, deciduous broad-leaved trees such as Mallotus japonicus or Callicarpa mollis were occupied in the areas. Approximately 30 years after the landslide, evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Cinnamomum japonicum invaded in the areas, already existed present deciduous broad-leaved trees. After 50 years, the summit of the canopy comprised evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii and Machilus thunbergii. Moreover, the diversity of vegetation invading the site reached the maximum after 15 years, followed by a decrease and stability in the number of trees. The total basal areas under vegetation increased with time. It was concluded that the vegetation community reaches the climax stage approximately 50 years after the occurrence of a shallow landslide in the study areas, in terms of the Fisher-Williams index of diversity (${\alpha}$) and the prevalence of evergreen broad-leaved trees. Moreover, according to the results of topsoil measurement in the study areas, the topsoil was formed at the rate of 0.31 cm/year. The development of topsoil usually functions to improve the multi-faceted functions of a forest. However, when the increased depth of topsoil exceeds the stability threshold, the conditions for a shallow landslide occurrence are satisfied. Therefore, we indicated to control the depth of topsoil and strengthen its resistance by forest management in order to restrain the occurrence of shallow landslides.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2015

Topsoil including numerous soil seedbanks has been known to be a valuable material for ecological restoration. There is a lack of specific study for its utilization in the field of stream restoration. This study conducted a revaluation of the value of topsoil as a material for stream restoration. Furthermore, an ecological technique using topsoil was applied in an improvement project of a stream environment at the Hwanggujicheon Stream in Korea. Stockpiling and spreading topsoil was specifically applied to the revegetation of a low slope revetment and a high flow plain. The result of this application showed that topsoil played an integral role in eco-friendly restoration in terms of ecological, flood control, economic, and constructional aspects. In conclusion, this study's findings suggest that topsoil is a suitable candidate material for stream restoration.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1389-1394
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• 2012

This study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest development area. The results of physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest development area shown on the average loamy sand~sandy clay loam in soil texture, 5.3~7.1 in pH, 0.02~0.18 dS/m in EC, 0.7~1.8% in OM, 0.03~0.11% in T-N, 11~15 $cmol^+/kg$ in CEC, 0.02~0.04 $cmol^+/kg$ in $K^+$, 4.51~8.18 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Ca^{2+}$, 0.93~2.77 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Mg^{2+}$, 6~49 mg/kg in available phosphate. And the results of physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest non-development area shown on the average sandy loam~sandy clay loam in soil texture, 4.4~5.3 in pH, 0.03~0.05 dS/m in EC, 3.1~4.6% in OM, 0.13~0.23% in T-N, 14~18 $cmol^+/kg$ in CEC, 0.02~0.04 $cmol^+/kg$ in $K^+$, 0.78~3.82 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Ca^{2+}$, 0.29~1.31 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Mg^{2+}$, 3~31 mg/kg in Av. $P_2O_5$. On the other hand, forest development area of topsoil sand content higher than 8~18% sand content than the forest non-development area. This trend is thought to be the absence of topsoil management development projects. Consequently, the results suggested a high potential of recycling of the topsoil from forest non-development area for planting soil. Therefore, in construction of the conservation and management of topsoil from forest non-development area is very important.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2011

Bacterial contamination of beach sand was examined in April, June, July, and August. Twenty four topsoil and subsoil samples were taken from the 1m and 5m points from the coastline in three Busan beaches (Haeundae, Gwanganli, and Songjeong). The 5m points from the coastline showed higher coliform contamination than 1 m points. July showed the highest bacterial contamination on beaches among surveyed months. Coliform contamination in the subsoil was higher than that of the topsoil. The bacterial contamination of 5m points of topsoil and subsoil in June except the Songjeong Beach was higher than those of July and August. We investigated Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio cholerae, and Bacillus cereus. Only B. cereus was detected at the beach in August. Although microbiological pollution of the Gwanganli Beach was the highest among three Busan beaches, the degree of contamination was not high compared to those of other countries. However, sandy soil management in public beach for pathogenic microorganisms is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.693-699
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• 2015

It has been known that torrential rainfall events have been occurring worldwide due to climate change. The accelerated soil erosion has caused negative impacts on water quality and ecosystem of receiving waterbodies. Since soil security issues have been arising in various areas of the world, intensive interests have been given to topsoil management in Korea. Thus in this study, Web GIS-based computing system of physical, chemical, and biological topsoil quality indices were developed. In this study, five soil quality maps at national scale and top soil erosion potential were prepared for evaluation of soil quality based on soil erosion potential. For this system, the open source Web GIS engine, OpenGeo, was used as core engine of the system. With this system, decision makers or related personnel in areas of soil erosion Best Management Practices (BMPs) would be able to find the most appropriate soil erosion BMPs based on soil erosion potential and soil quality at the area of interest. The Web GIS system would be efficiently used in decision making processes because of ease-of-use interface and scientific data used in this system. This Web GIS system would be efficiently used because this system could provide scientific knowledge to decision makers or stakeholders. Currently various BMP database are being built to be used as a decision support system in topsoil management and topsoil quality areas.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.521-531
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to suggest a quantitative assessment of wetland damage considering the effects of topsoil erosion and deposition from rainfall. In the Cheoncheon Basin located upstream of the Yongdam Dam, 16 wetlands are located, but the lacustrine and small palustrine wetland were analyzed for possible damage to erosion and deposition. As a result of applying typhoon events in 2002 and 2003, the sediment load from the upper basin was the highest at 2.30% (22,548 ㎥) of low water capacity. The average sediment load in the mountain areas was found to be 0.03% of the low water capacity, and it was analyzed to be less damaging than the lacustrine with relatively large watershed. as a result of the model, the lacustrine wetland, where a large area is used as agricultural land, shows a high probability of sediment yield, so it is highly likely to damage the wetland by topsoil erosion.