• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Reuse of waste nutrient solution for the cultivation of crops could lead to considerable conservation of water resources, plant nutrients, and water quality. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential for reducing the use of chemical fertilizer in Chinese cabbage cultivation via the reuse of waste nutrient solution as an alternative irrigation resource. METHODS AND RESULTS: The nutrients supplied in the waste nutrient solution consisted of 1474.5, 1285.1, 991.6, and 872.6 mg/L for $K+$, ${NO_3}^-$, $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$, respectively. At 56 days after transplanting (DAT), the leaf length of Chinese cabbage plants irrigated with the waste nutrient solution treatment was significantly higher than that of plants irrigated using a conventional groundwater treatment. Additionally, the leaf width, fresh weight and dry weight of the plants irrigated with the waste nutrient solution were similar or greater than that of plants irrigated with a conventional treatment. Furthermore, the growth of plants treated with the waste nutrient solution +25% fertilizer was the highest among all tested treatments. CONCLUSION(s): These results indicate that the waste nutrient solution can be used as an alternate water resource for crop cultivation. In addition, it can contribute to reduce the fertilizer and to obtain the higher crop yield of Chinese cabbage.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.63-78
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• 1996

The main purpose of this research project is to monitor the present state of agricultural environment and to develope the countermeasures for the protection of the environment from the pollution by animal wastes. The results of this research were described largely 3 parts, 1) Monitoring of present state of environmental pollution by animal wastes, 2) Monitoring of animal wastes treatment technology, 3) Strategies for the protection of environmental pollution from animal wastes in future. The current most important problems from animal wastes are water pollution and air pollution commonly regardless of domestic or foreign country. Especially, intensive livestocks breeding pattern in restricted area is actually a real reason of eutrophication, soil acidification, ground water contamination, irrigation water pollution. As a result from this research project, authors recommend the 3 type of strategies for the protection of environmental pollution by animal wastes, 1 . Development of non-discharge type of wastes treatment technology 2. Manufacturing local structure for animal waste recycling system 3. Development of new international environmental program for transfer bioresource and soil environment prevention.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.232-232
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of 6.29 Gm3 per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.408-408
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• 2019

The persistence of drought periods and water scarcity is a growing public concern, as climate change projections indicate a more critical scenario in the future. The sustainability of water resources for the increasing population, and to ensuring crop production will unarguably be a daunting task for the water resources managers, with a projected 9.8 billion people by 2050 as well as the need to increase food production by 70 to 100%. Consequently, there is a need for significant irrigation water use for more crop production in the face of stiff competition among water users. However, the available natural resources are already over-constrained, and the allocation of more resources for food production is not feasible. Currently, about two-thirds of global water withdrawer is used by the agricultural sector while 48% of water resources in Korea is used for agricultural production. Despite the apparent ecological deficit and unfavorable conditions of resources utilization, a staggering amount of food waste occurs in the country. Moreover, wastage of food translates to waste of all the resources involved in the food production including water resources. Food waste can also be considered a serious potential for economic and environmental problems. Hence, exploring an alternative approach to efficient resources utilization in a more sustainable way can ensure considerable resources conservation. We hypothesized that reducing food waste will decline the demand for food production and consequently reduce the pressure on water resources. We investigated the food wastage across the food supply chain using the top-down datasets based on the FAO mass balance model. Furthermore, the water footprint of the estimated food wastage was assessed using the representative of selected food crops. The study revealed that the average annual food wastage across the food supply chain is 9.05 million tonnes, signifying 0.51 kg/capita/day and 48% of domestic food production. Similarly, an average of $6.29Gm^3$ per annum of water resources was lost to food wastage, which translates to 40% of the total allotted water resources for agriculture in the country. These considerable resources could have been conserved or efficiently used for other purposes. This study demonstrated that zero food waste generation would significantly reduce the impact on freshwater resources and ensure its conservation. There is a need for further investigation on the food waste study using the bottom-up approach, specifically at the consumer food waste, since the top-down approach is based on estimations and many assumptions were made.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2009

Sericulturists in the vicinity of Bangalore city irrigate their mulberry gardens with Vrishabhavathy stream water, which is polluted with domestic and industrial wastes from the city. To investigate the effect of pollutants on silkworm crops, a detailed field survey was conducted to study the cocoon yield pattern of the crops raised on mulberry irrigated with wastewater as against irrigation by bore/open wells. The villages along the stream were grouped into five test batches at about a distance of $5{\sim}8$ km from each other. The seasonal yield data with relevant information were collected through questionnaires from 117 rearers using stream water and 35 rearers using bore/open wells, the latter serving as control group. The average yield for 100 layings was 46 to 57 kg in the control group whereas in test groups, it ranged between 34 to 51 kg in the first test group and 22 to 38 kg in the rest. The difference in yield was $9{\sim}19$ kg depending on the season between control and test batches. In summer, this difference was higher, with high co-efficient of variation in test groups ($33{\sim}52$%). Further, water, soil and leaf samples were collected from selected rearers and were analyzed for zinc, copper, iron, lead and nickel. Results indicated significantly higher contents of these metals in samples from gardens using wastewater when compared control samples. Significantly (p<0.05 & p<0.01)) higher levels of zinc ($24{\sim}122$ ppm) and iron ($208{\sim}683$ ppm) were noticed in mulberry leaves during summer followed by winter and rainy season. The significance of high content of heavy metals in mulberry leaves and cocoon yield pattern of this area in relation to the quality of irrigation water is discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2001

Populus euramericana and Betula platyphylla var. japonica have been identified as possible species for use for phytoremediation of landfills. To identify the effects of waste leachate on growth and physiological characteristics in Populus euramericana and Betula platyphylla var. japonica, four different treatments were applied to seedlings for 3 months: leachate solution(100% leachate), 50% dilution(50% leachate: 50% water, v/v), 75% dilution(25% leachate: 75% water, v/v) and control(tab water) were applied to these two species. Treatment with waste leachate significantly stimulated both Populus euramericana and Betula platyphylla var. japonica height, diameter at root collar and biomass production relative to the water control. Chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis and transpiration of leachate irrigated-trees were significantly higher than those of water control. These results suggested that these two species could be suitable species for phytoremediation in landfills because these species showed good growth performance and were capable of taking up waste leachate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.373-376
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• 2002

It is reported that Korea is a county of water shortage. The government make plans to construct dam to cope with this problem. But, it become difficult to construct dam, because of public opinion of residents and objection of environmentalist. In the sense, the government set up new policy of demand-management which means water saving. It is known that the efficiency of agricultural water is so poor that the first target to save water is focussed on agricultural water. In the study, the function of agricultural water was evaluated and it is found that it is not a waste, but a good ability on eco-system by return flow.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.162-170
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• 2001

The majority of important structures are made of concrete. Recently earth canals have increasingly been changed to concrete-based irrigation structures every year for higher efficiency of water conveyance and easier maintenance. Unfortunately these concrete structures for agricultural purpose have serviced to only $15{\sim}20$ years, which amounts to only about one third of target service life and will finally result in natural resources waste and weakening of competitive power of agriculture and farmers. Moreover, recently increased concerns of phil-environment have required reconsideration of the roles, shapes, service lives of the irrigation structures. Hereby, this study is presented to find out suggestions or comments on the solutions to the problems of shorter service life and the resultant environmental impact encountered recently in the hydraulic structures for the prosperity of farmers, agriculture and this country.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2009

Water shortages are expected to be a major impact of climate change. This study examined the growth of Chinese cabbage seedling using reclaimed wastewater and waste nutrient solution as alternative irrigation resources. Generally, the concentration of nutrients, such as $K^+$, $NH_4^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$,$NO_3^-$, $PO_4^-$ and $SO_4^{2-}$, in waste nutrient solution was higher than that in wastewater. However, Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with wastewater was supplied a higher concentration of $Na^+$ and $Cl^-$ than waste nutrient solution. The growth of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution was similar or higher than those irrigated with groundwater as control, while the growth of those irrigated with wastewater was similar to those irrigated with groundwater. The total nitrogen uptake in Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with groundwater, waste nutrient solution from organic and inorganic hydroponic cultures, and wastewater was 5.47, 10.02, 5.20, and 4.59 mg/plant, respectively. The nitrogen uptake of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution from organic hydroponic substrates in a 50% lower dose than recommended was 8.34 mg/plant, which is higher than that of the cabbage irrigated with groundwater. Overall, the results suggest that waste nutrient solution and wastewater can be used as alternate water resources, and can allow a reduction in the amount of fertilizer needed to raise Chinese cabbage seedling.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.333-336
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• 1987

A liquid waste from methane fermantation was applied on Maize field to determine its effect and optimum application rate on the plant growth. A basal application of liquid waste increased a considerable amount of soil water resulting in an increase of germination. Fresh and dry yields of maize plant increased as the liquid waste application rate increased and same as plant growth. Nitrogen and phosphorus components in plant and soil showed the same tendency as the yields. The result indicates that the liquid waste is potentially useful source for a fertilizer and irrigation water.