• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.447-458
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• 2012

This study was carried out to evaluation of biomass generation mechanisms and to propose the estimation method of biomass generation. Agricultural by-product biomass is generated during crops cultivation and after harvest. However these are not uniformly generated yearly and these depending on the seasons. For planning of biomass utilization, accurate information of the biomass resources is needed, especially characteristic and productivity of biomass are necessary. Agricultural by-product biomass are generated in a wide area being scattered and it is one of the major reason why agricultural biomass utilization is not activated compared with other waste biomass. In this study, estimation and evaluation biomass generation is achieved in specific spatial and temporal boundary, A-city in Gyeongi-do and september to November respectively. Quantity and quality of by-product biomass show big difference depending on the crop species and cultivation periods and these difference bring up that accurate biomass estimation should be considered during planning of biomass utilization and technology selecting for biomass converting to energy and other forms.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.408-416
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• 2010

To evaluate the effectiveness of AMF on the growth of horticultural crops, we compared mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants, perilla (P. frutescens Britt.), that were inoculated with AMF propagules. In the early stages of growth of perilla, compared to the AMF- perilla seedlings, in AMF+ perilla seedlings at 3 weeks after sowing, leaf length and width increased 17% and 29%, leaf area increased 28%, and shoot fresh weight increased 33%, root total length increased 1%, and chlorophyll content increased 3%. Further at 10 weeks after sowing, compared to the AMF- perilla plants, in perilla plants inoculated with AMF at the sowing and transplanting stages, leaf area increased 21% and 19%, shoot length increased 19% and 17%, root fresh weight increased 17% and 20%, and chlorophyll content increased 5.1% and 4.8%, respectively. Moreover, at 14 weeks after sowing, compared to the AMFperilla plants, in perilla plants inoculated with AMF at the sowing and transplanting stages, the number of leaves increased 16% and 20%, root fresh weight increased 16% and 17% significantly. Further, leaf fresh weight increased 9% and 11%, shoot diameter increased 4.5% and 7.3%, and chlorophyll content increased 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively. The levels of many macronutrients and micronutrients were tended to be significantly higher in AMF+ plants than in AMF- plants, supporting the association between AMF and enhanced growth of plants grown from AMF+ seedlings.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2016

Background: Estrogen signaling pathways are modulated by exogenous factors. Panax ginseng exerts multiple activities in biological systems and is classified as an adaptogen. Zearalenol is a potent mycoestrogen that may be present in herbs and crops arising from contamination or endophytic association. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of P. ginseng, zearalenol and estradiol in tests on spermatozoal function. Methods: The affinity of these compounds for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and beta ($ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$)-was assessed in receptor binding assays. Functional tests on boar spermatozoa motility, movement and kinematic parameters were conducted using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer. Tests for capacitation, acrosome reaction (AR), and chromatin decondensation in spermatozoa were performed using microscopic analysis. Results: Zearalenol-but not estradiol ($E_2$)- or ginseng-treated spermatozoa-decreased the percentage of overall, progressive, and rapid motile cells. Zearalenol also decreased spontaneous AR and increased chromatin decondensation. Ginseng decreased chromatin decondensation in response to calcium ionophore and decreased AR in response to progesterone ($P_4$) and ionophore. Conclusion: Zearalenol has adverse effects on sperm motility and function by targeting multiple signaling cascades, including $P_4$, $E_2$, and calcium pathways. Ginseng protects against chromatin damage and thus may be beneficial to reproductive fitness.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2001

Agricultural drainage salt generated during irrigation of crops in San Joaquin Valley, California, exceeds 600,000 tons annually and cumulates in the field in a rapid rate. As a result, the waste is taking out more farmlands for salt storage and disposal, imposing serious concerns to environment and local agricultural industry. In searching for a potential solution to reduce or eliminate the waste, this research explored feasibility of producing a value -added product, sodium sulfate, from the waste and utilizing the product in textile dyeing. The results indicated that sodium sulfate could be produced from the salt and could be purified by a recrystalization method in a temperature range within the highest and lowest daily temperatures in summer in the alley. The recovered sodium sulfate samples, with purities ranging from 67% to 99.91, were compared with commercially available sodium sulfate in direct dyeing of cotton fabrics. The salt samples recovered from Mendata, California (〉98.8% sodium sulfate) cause little color difference in the dyeing with selected direct dyes, and the purified salt (Ⅲ) (99.91% sodium sulfate) is more applicable for direct dyeing of cotton fabrics if it has no other toxic effects. The recovered sodium sulfate from certain areas in the valley could not be employed in direct dyeing due to the high level of impurities in it.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.295-297
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• 2011

Weed control is the most important issue in organic farming systems that limit crop growth and their yield. Field experiments were conducted in organic soybean (Glycine max Merrill) to evaluate the weed suppression effects of salt and seawater treatment. Weed population and fresh weight were monitored after 6 weeks of salt and seawater treatments. The most important weeds were Digitaria sanguinalis, Portulaca oleracea, Tradescantia reflexa and Chenopodium album var. centrorubrum, but also 6 other species were observed in soybean arable field. Soybean crops under seawater or their solids application were well grown. The results treated with salts and seawater indicate decreases by 13.4~30.8% in weed density and by 18.0~43.2% in their fresh weight and soil hardness increases of up to 2.1-fold. Salt and seawater provided good additional weed control, but they were caused a serious problem in deterioration of soil physical properties.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.139-140
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• 2011

In organic farming agriculture, integration of cover crop into cropping system is recommended to improve the soil quality, prevent soil erosion, and control weeds. The aim of this study was to control weeds in soybean fields by integration of cover crops such as hairy vetch and rye. Due to cover crop mulching, weeds occurrence and growth were radically decreased. One month later after transplanting, weed growth inhibition rate of hairy vetch and rye treatment were 98% and 89% respectively, while crimson clover treatment were 50%. These effects last long over two month. The soybean yield of hairy vetch treatment was best. Therefore using hairy vetch as cover crop was highly recommended in organic soybean field.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.313-333
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• 2022

In Muju County, one of Korea's major apple producers, the regional agricultural cooperatives united together and invested to establish a cooperative joint business corporation in charge of the sales business. The corporation carried out the sales business transferred from the participating regional agricultural cooperatives. While the two participating cooperatives showed a marked difference in the degree of participation at the beginning of the business, the introduction of the agricultural product processing centers (APCs) and the participation of co-selection and shipment organizations and general farms helped settle this gap. In addition, commercialization through the APCs enhanced the market competitiveness of apples, which led to the stable securing of sales outlets. The corporation integrated the sales business in the county and this resulted in increased sales volume and sales revenue. Playing a leading role in introducing and cultivating new crops on a trial basis, the corporation demonstrated its potential as the main body of the joint sales business.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.58-58
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• 2022

With the development of advanced technology, automation of agricultural work is spreading. In association with the 4th industrial revolution-based technology, research on field smart farm technology is being actively conducted. A state-of-the-art unmanned automated agricultural production demonstration complex was established in Naju-si, Jeollanam-do. For the operation of the demonstration area platform, it is necessary to build a sophisticated, advanced, and intelligent field smart farming model. For the operation of the unmanned automated agricultural production demonstration area platform, we are building data on the growth of soybean for smart cultivated crops and conducting research to determine the optimal time for agricultural work. In order to operate an unmanned automation platform, data is collected to discover digital factors for water management immediately after planting, water management during the growing season, and determination of harvest time. A subsurface drip irrigation system was established for smart water management. Irrigation was carried out when the soil moisture was less than 20%. For effective water management, soil moisture was measured at the surface, 15cm, and 30cm depth. Vegetation indices were collected using drones to find key factors in soybean production prediction. In addition, major growth characteristics such as stem length, number of branches, number of nodes on the main stem, leaf area index, and dry weight were investigated. By discovering digital factors for effective decision-making through data construction, it is expected to greatly enhance the efficiency of the operation of the unmanned automated agricultural production demonstration area.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2024

This study is to apply behavioral economics-an economics that studies actual human behavior based on cognitive psychology-to the farming decision-making process of onion and garlic farmers. Of behavioral economic theories, dual system theory and prospect theory (value function), heuristic and bias were surveyed and examined in the field. The reference point of farmers was farming experience of the previous year, and so they showed reference dependence and anchoring heuristic, not rational thinking on production cost plan. And they showed status quo bias that cultivated continuously the previous year or the present crop. This status quo bias is related to loss aversion propensity. Farmers did not usually change cultivating crops, in other words, they showed diminishing sensitivity-insensitive to those that the more revenue or loss was increased. This diminishing sensitivity is related to loss aversion propensity and status quo bias. Also, farmers had representativeness heuristic because they regarded auction price of Garakdong wholesale market as the standard price level despite various prices by production region. And farmers had the affect heuristic that they depended on producers' organization data more than the state-run research institute ones about cultivation intentions and actual situations.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-159
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• 2024

Major crop prices have been raised significantly in recent years by COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and weather-induced reductions in South American soybean production by unfavoured weather in 2022. Rising international crop prices are likely to destabilize food security in South Korea, which is highly dependent on foreign crops. This study analyzed the impact of soybean import price changes on the domestic soybean market and soybean food self-sufficiency rate from 2024 to 2029 using a dynamic partial equilibrium model. According to the scenario analysis results, if the import prices rise by 10% compared to the baseline, the soybean food self-sufficiency rate would increase by 1.33% in 2024, but it is expected to decrease to -0.58% in 2029 due to the continuous decrease in production. The results of this study are expected to be used as valuable information for policy authorities in establishing policies related to improving food self-sufficiency.