• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Global population is expected to reach nine billion in 2050 and the total demand for food is expected to increase approximately by 60 percent by 2050 as compared to 2005. Therefore, it is important to increase crop production in order to meet the global demand for food. Slow release fertilizers have been developed and designed in order to improve the efficiency of fertilizers. Mineral-based slow release fertilizers are useful because the minerals have a crystalline structure and are environmentally friendly in a soil. This review focuses on slow release fertilizers based on montmorillonite, zeolite, and layered double hydroxide phases as a host for nutrients, especially N. Urea was successfully stabilized in the interlayer space of montmorillonite by the formation of urea-Mg or Ca complex, $[(Urea)_6Mg\;or\;Ca]^{2+}$ protecting its rapid degradation in soils. Naturally occurring zeolites occluded with ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate by molten salt treatment could be used as slow release fertilizer because the occlusion process increased the capacity of zeolites to store nutrients in addition to exchangeable cations. Additionally, surface-modified zeolites could also be used as slow release fertilizer because the modified surface showed high affinity for anionic nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate. Moreover, there were attempts to develop and use synthetic layered double hydroxide as a carrier of nitrate because it has positively charged layers which electrostatically bond nitrate anions. Kaolin was also tested by combining with a polymer or through the mechanical-chemical process for slow release of nutrients.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.384-393
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• 2021

Recently, due to environmental and toxicity issues, there has been increasing attention on research regarding natural products that can reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Wood extracts derived from the biorefining process contain various fertilizer ingredients. HPLC analysis revealed that wood extract contains approximately 5.2% hemicellulosic sugar. The growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) upon treatment with wood extract (extract obtained from steam-exploded pine) or water-soluble fertilizers containing different nutrients was analyzed in this study. After two weeks, the growth characteristics of lettuce as affected by wood extract or water-soluble fertilizers were significantly different. The effect of water-soluble fertilizers containing ascorbic acid, magnesium sulfate, citric acid, potassium nitrate, amino acids, or seaweed extract was less desirable than that of wood extracts regarding plant height (18.6 cm), number of leaves (10), leaf length (14.1 cm), shoot fresh wight (9.8 g/plant), root fresh weight (0.8 g/plant) and shoot dry weight (0.6 g/plant). The plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, shoot fresh wight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight of water-soluble fertilizers containing wood extract were significantly different compared to the control (plant height :13.5 cm, number of leaves : 7, leaf length : 9.4 cm, shoot fresh wight : 5.3 g/plant, root fresh weight : 0.7 g/plant, shoot dry weight : 0.4 g/plant, root dry weight : 0.07 g/plant). From these results, it was concluded that wood extract can be used as a potential water-soluble fertilizer to increase the yield of leafy vegetables.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2447-2453
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• 2023

The radioactivity concentrations of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) i.e., ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴K in various chemical fertilizers being used in the agricultural soil of Pakistan were determined utilizing gamma spectrometry by employing a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The radioactivity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴K extended from 2.58 ± 0.8-265.7 ± 8.8 Bq kg^-1, 1.53 ± 0.14-76.6 ± 1.07 Bq kg^-1 and 36.5 ± 1.34-15606.7 ± 30.2 Bq kg^-1 respectively. The radiological hazard parameters such as internal and external indices and annual effective dose rates were calculated, while excessive lifetime cancer risk factors for the indoor and outdoor areas were found in the range from 0.3×10^-3 to 10.723×10^-3 and 0.03×10^-3 to 2.7948×10^-3 of most fertilizers, however, some values were slightly higher than the UNSCEAR (The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation) recommended values for potash-containing fertilizers such as MOP (Muriate of Potash).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.451-454
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• 2003

Nonpoint source pollution of groundwater and subsurface water from irrigated agriculture is a major concern in many areas. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of the water applied by irrigation in agricultural area on the transport of nitrogen and phosphorus originated from fertilizers applied to the surface of soil in agricultural activities. We first conducted investigation on the resdual concentrations of soil N and P in a selected agricultural area. And simulating the target area by column studies in the laboratory leaching extent of various components from the composite and urea fertilizers applied on the soil surface during irrigation was studied. Infiltration of water enhanced the leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus in both the rice paddy field soil and the patch soil. The downward N and P transport with infiltrating water was more pronounced in the patch soil column and the increased residual concentrations of N and P in the lower sections in the patch soil column was found with time.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.969-980
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• 2016

This experiment was conducted to assess changes to the chemical properties of soil and applicability in a case of rice cultivation with organic fertilizers. The investigator applied organic fertilizers to rice cultivation for five years to examine changes to the chemical properties of soil and found that the experiment group of organic fertilizers made an ongoing increase in pH, organism content, and available phosphate content annually compared with the control group with no big differences according to the amounts of organic fertilizers used. As for the yield components, there were no statistical differences in the number of spikelets and grain filling rate between the experiment group of organic fertilizers and the control group. The experiment group recorded a higher level in 1,000 seeds weight and yield than the control group. Experiment Group 4 recorded the highest level at 29.11 kg of 1,000 seeds weight. Experiment Groups 3 and 4, which used 222 kg and 267 kg per 10 a, respectively, recorded 576 kg and 572 kg of yield, respectively, which were 4.7% and 4.1% higher than 549 kg of control group, respectively. As for the quality of brown rice, there were no statistical differences in the head rice percentage between the control and experiment group, both of which were in the range of 83.2-85.7%. As for the protein content, Experiment Groups 3 and 4, both of which used a lot of organic fertilizers, were in the range of 6.9-7.1%, which was lower than 7.5% of control group. Those findings indicate that the long-term application of organic fertilizers can improve the chemical properties of soil and increase the yield more than the conventional method of fertilizer application. The findings also suggest that it will be effective to apply 222 kg of organic fertilizers or more per 10 a.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.665-672
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a chelating agent on cucumber growth and changes in soil nutrients availability in polytunnel greenhouse fields. Diethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA) was selected as a chelating agent. Two experiments were carried out as follows: i) For field experiment in the autumn season of 2010, each plot was treated by varying the concentration and the number of times being applied with DTPA; [DTPA (0.5 mM, 1 time/3 months), DTPA (0.06 mM, 1 time/1 week), DTPA (0.13 mM, 1 time/2 weeks), DTPA (0.06 mM, 1 time/1 week)+N]. Conventional practice was also investigated. ii) In the spring and summer seasons of 2011, each plot was treated by varying the concentration (0, 0.06, 0.13, 0.19 mM) of DTPA, chemical fertilizers (NPK), and combination of chemical fertilizers and DTPA 0.06 mM. The fruit yields of cucumber and soil chemical properties had no significant differences between treatments. However, in the spring season of 2011, DTPA 0.06 mM plot added 1 time per 2 weeks increased the yield of cucumber, but caused the reduction of yield in next cultivation season. This result showed that excess use of DTPA can cause the damage of crop growth. The inorgainc contents such as Ca and Mg absorbed by cucumber plant had significant differences between DTPA 0.19 mM (2 times/1 week) and fertilizers plus DTPA treatments [DTPA 0.06 mM (2 times/1 week) + 1/2 NPK, DTPA 0.06 mM (2 times/1 week) + NPK]. The input cost of fertilizers was saved when the concentration and the number of times added with DTPA was 0.06 mM and 1 time a week, respectively. This treatment used 67% less of applied fertilizers cost than the plot of conventional practice did. Thus, this research suggested that the application of DTPA 0.06 mM by 1 time a week can be effective for sustainability of crop production and reduction of fertilizers usage in polytunnel greenhouse.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.579-584
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• 2013

The study was conducted to investigate changes in the characteristics of inorganic components during fermenting process of organic liquid fertilizers according to the type and ratio of microorganism and the amount of molasses when producing organic liquid fertilizers using sesame oil cake and rice bran. To select appropriate microorganisms, liquid fertilizers were produced through a 90-day fermentation process by adding mag-ggeo-li, yogurt, dried yeast, and leaf mold. The pH in liquid fertilizer was decreased, and then increased in all microorganism samples except the mag-ggeo-li sample. The EC was rapidly increased in all samples until the $10^{th}$ days after production, and showed no changes after the $60^{th}$ days in dried yeast and after the $30^{th}$ days in the other samples. The concentration of $NH_4$-N was generally increased with time. The concentration of $P_2O_5$ was rapidly increased until the $10^{th}$ days after production and was maintained at about 1% regardless of the type of microorganism. In terms of the characteristics of liquid fertilizers according to the ratio of selected dried yeast, the pH was decreased until the $30^{th}$ days after producing the liquid fertilizers, and then was increased regardless of the ratio of dried yeast. The EC was increased with time and showed no differences depending on the amount of dried yeast. The concentration of $NH_4$-N was increased with time and in proportion to the amount of dried yeast. In terms of the characteristics of liquid fertilizers according to the ratio of molasses, the pH was decreased with increasing the molasses. The EC and concentration of $P_2O_5$ were no differences according to the amount of molasses. When 3% molasses was added, the content of $NH_4$-N was 2.6 mg $L^{-1}$ at the beginning and was at 3,025 mg $L^{-1}$ on the $90^{th}$ days.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 1998

Most of total nitrogen in the surface soil exists in organic forms, of which amino acid-N is the major fraction. By-product fertilizers provide soil with humic substances, and humic acid is an essential component of humus. Amino acids(AAs) are easily converted to inorganic-N forms and thus play an important role in N fertility. This experiment was conducted to investigate the contents and distributions of AAs in humic acids which were extracted from the commercial by-product fertilizers of different composting materials. Total contents of AAs in humic acids ranged from 1.2 to 5.6%, of which neutral AAs were the highest with ranges of 0.8~4.5%. AAs contents in fertilizers composted from the plant residues such as leaf litter, sawdust and bark were in an order of neutral>acidic>basic AAs. In contrast, those from animal wastes, such as poultry and pig manures, were in an order of neutral>basic>acidic AAs. Distributions of total, acidic and neutral AAs were in the respective order of leaf litter>sawdust>pig manure>poultry manure>peat, bark>sawdust>leaf litter>peat and leaf litter>sawdust>bark>peat. Distributions of the basic AAs were in the reversed order of the acidic AAs. In bark fertilizer with increasing compost maturity, contents of the acidic AAs were increased in compensation for the decreases in those of neutral and basic AAs. Results demonstrated that distributions of amino acids in humic acid of by-product fertilizers were different from composting raw materials and degrees of humification.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 1998

To mitigate the methane emission from rice paddy fields, effects of nitrogen fertilizers source and cultural patterns were evaluated on silty loam soils. And a pot experiment was carried out to find out the effects of nitrogen fertilizers on soil pH, Eh, sulfate concentration of soil water in flooded soil. In transplanting cultivation, the total methane emission depending on fertilizers was $32.9gm^{-2}$ for urea ; $30.3gm^{-2}$ for ammonium sulfate ; $26.4gm^{-2}$ for coated urea. Methane emitted in direct seeding on dry soil was $24.7gm^{-2}$ for urea ; $16.7gm^{-2}$ for ammonium sulfate : and $22.8gm^{-2}$ for coated urea. Thus, the methane emission rate of direct seeding on dry soil was 29.7% lower than transplanting. According to the nitrogen fertilizers, the methane emission rate by ammonium sulfate and coated urea were reduced 18.4 and 15.9% in comparison with urea, respectively. In pot experiments, pH in flooded soils depending on nitrogen fertilizers dereased in order of urea > coated $urea{\fallingdotseq}no$ fertilizer > ammonium sulfate and the order was coincided with that of total $CH_4$ emission from flooded soil. Soil Eh was highest in ammonium sulfate application followed by coated urea, no fertilizer, urea. And sulfate concentrations of soil water were in order of ammonium sulfate > coated urea > urea > no fertilizer.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-76
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• 2009

The purpose of this study are to investigate the reasonable maintenance expense of golf course according to the size and management system of each golf course. The maintenance cost per hole per golfer of 29 golf courses and the maintenance cost for items and locations of 8 golf courses were analyzed. 1. As golfers per hole increased, maintenance cost per hole per golfer decreased. 2. The decisive cost factors for maintenance cost of golf course are the number of annual golfers, the total course size, the management system, and automation of course facilities. 3. Maintenance cost of golf courses contained the landscaping areas except for building and parking lots is $869^{\}/_{m^2}$ Korean won. 4. Average maintenance cost of 8 golf courses is $44,325,000^{\}/_{hole}$. 5. Labor cost marked the largest portion in the total cost. Among the items of labor cost, repair cost for green ball mark was the highest with the ratio of 26%(\4,163,000). 6. Material cost for Fairways which reaches 30% of the total area was composed of $22%{\sim}44%$ of the total cost of materials. Cost of imported fertilizers, pestcides for insects and diseases, and sands for top dressing was the highest. 7. Material cost for Green which reaches 2% of the total area was composed of $28%{\sim}36%$ of the total cost. Cost of imported products such as particle-shaped fertilizers, micro mineral fertilizers, and soil conditioners was the highest. 8. There is no difference in cost between chemical fertilizers and the environmentally friendly fertilizers even if environmentally friendly fertilizers using microorganism or chitosan materials are also expensive.