• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2013

Anthropogenic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, primarily through radiative forcing from carbon dioxide, continue to challenge earth's climate. This study quantified $CO_2$ storage and uptake by dominant forest types and age classes in the middle region of Korea. In addition, the role of forest landscapes in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ against $CO_2$ emissions based on energy consumption was evaluated. Mean $CO_2$ storage and uptake per unit area by woody plants for three forest types and four age classes were estimated applying regression equations derived to quantify $CO_2$ storage and uptake per tree; and computations per soil unit area were also performed. Total $CO_2$ storage and uptake by forest landscapes were estimated by extrapolating $CO_2$ storage and uptake per unit area. Results indicated mean $CO_2$ storage per unit area by woody plants and soils was higher in older age classes for the same forest types, and higher in broadleaved than coniferous forests for the same age classes, with the exception of age class II (11-20 years). $CO_2$ storage by broadleaved forests of age class V (41-50 years) averaged 662.0 t/ha (US$331.0 hundred/ha), highest for all forest types and age classes evaluated. Overall, an increased mean $CO_2$ uptake per unit area by woody plants was evident for older age classes for the same forest types. However, decreased $CO_2$ uptake by broadleaved forests at age class V was observed, compared to classes III and IV with an average of 27.9 t/ha/yr (US$14.0 hundred/ha/yr). Total $CO_2$ storage by woody plants and soils in the study area was equivalent to 3.4 times the annual $CO_2$ emissions, and woody plants annually offset the $CO_2$ emissions by 17.7%. The important roles of plants and soils were associated with 39.1% of total forest area in South Korea, and $CO_2$ emissions comprised 62.2% of the total population. Therefore, development of forest lands may change $CO_2$ sinks into sources. Forest landscape management strategies were explored to maintain or improve forest roles in reducing atmospheric $CO_2$ levels.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.389-393
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of soil acidification on the growth of 3-year-old Pinus densiflora seedlings grown for 21 weeks in brown forest soils acidified with $H_2SO_4$ solution. The concentrations of Al in the acidified soils were increased with increasing amount of $H^+$ added to the soil. The total dry weight of the seedlings was reduced by the addition of the $H_2SO_4$ solution. In addition, there was a strong positive correlation (r=0.97, p<0.01) between the dry weight of the seedlings and the molar (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio of the soil. The seedlings with the molar (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio of 1.0 resulted from approximately 50% growth reduction compared with the control value. The results suggest that the molar (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio of the soil may be a useful indicator for assessing the critical load of acid deposition.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.690-697
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• 2012

Approximately 67% of the total land area of the Korea is covered by forest. Eutrophication, defined as the enrichment of waters beyond natural levels, principally by the nutrient phosphorus (P), is a serious cause of concern at the present time. The contribution of forestry to P loading in catchment waters has not been intensively studied in Korea, but is potentially important because forests are often located in near-pristine environments. Phosphorus is retained by most mineral soils and, as a consequence, losses are usually negligible. However, it is much more mobile in organic soils where it can be relatively easily leached or lost through surface runoff, as these soils have a low capacity to retain free phosphate. This report has been prepared to study the influence of arable land used for paddy, upland, and forestry on water quality in the basin of Daechung reservoir.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 1992

A key to the species which have been isolated from the Korean forest soils was provided, and three unrecorded species found in the forest soils of Mt. Halla were described and illustrated. Twenty dictyostelid cellular slime molds had been found in Korean forest soils. Among these, nine species were PG positive, and eleven species were PG negative. Three species described in this study were all PG positive. These were Dictyastelium aurea-stipes Cavender, Raper et Norberg vaL aurea-stipes (new strain HL-5), Dictyastelium monachasiaides Hagiwara, PalysPhandylium tenuissimum Hagiwara. Morphological features and growth habits of these species were examined and compared, and their distribution patterns were illustrated.trated.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1314-1319
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the surface soil organic carbon fractions affecting by different land use types, including needle-leaf forest (FN), broad-leaf forest (FB), pasture, annual upland cropping land (upland), and paddy rice land (paddy). We chose seven regions across Korean inland, considering sea level altitude, and measured soil organic carbon content and physico-chemical properties such as bulk density at a depth of 0~15 cm using core samples in April for the each land use type. In addition, labile organic carbon fractions in soil including light fraction and hot water extractable carbon were investigated. From this study, organic carbon storage (Mg C per ha) in the upper 15-cm soils was highest in FB (37.8), and decreased in the order of pasture (29.1), FN (28.8), paddy (21.9), and upland crop (19.9). In forest, more than 20% of soil organic carbon existed as light fraction, the free organic matter. Hot-water extractable carbon contents of soils in five land use types were lower than 7% of their soil organic carbon content.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.78 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 1989

Four regions have been selected and surveyed to investigate the effects of air pollution and acid deposition on forest ecosystem. They were Seoul as urban region, Yeochon and Ulsan as industrialized region, and Kangwondo as uncontaminated region. Soil pH and the distribution of elements were analyzed in process of time for three years as well as by distance from pollution sources. In general, forest soils acidified in process of time from pollution sources to suburban areas. Hydrogen ion concentration in forest soils increased in 1988 as much as 60% of that in previous year. Average soil pH values in coniferous forest were 4.45 in Seoul, 4.54 in Yeochon, 4.81 in Ulsan, and 6.03 in Kangwondo. Forest soil pH increased with the distance from pollution sources to suburban areas at constant rate within short ranges (up to 30 km) and at decreasing rate within long ranges (up to 200 km). On the contrary, sulfur content in soils decreased every year except in Yeochon region. Base saturation of forest soils in polluted regions were all below 20% level compared with 70% in Kangwondo region. Active aluminum content in soils increased with the soil acidification at the highest rate in Yeochon, and the next in Ulsan and Seoul. Heavy metal content such as copper and zinc in tree tissues were the lowest in Kangwondo region, and the next in Yeochon, Seoul and Ulsan.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.280-285
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• 1994

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of acid deposition on forest soil, major five Korean forest soils(Brown, Dark red, Gray brown, Red and Yellow, and Volcanic ash forest soils) The samples were subjected to receive 1200mm($100mm{\times}12$ times) of artificial acid rain adjusted to pH5.6, 4.0, 3.0 and 2.0. The results obtained of major importance are summarized as follow ; 1. Ca appeared mostly affected at pH treatment of 2.0, while less affected by other pH treatments. Leaching of Ca rapidly increased with increasing of artificial acid rain acidity and application times in Dark red forest soil. 2. In the cases of Mg, K and Na, they showed gradual increase with the addition of artificial acid rain. Mg and Na losses showed similar leaching patterns, but they didn't show difference among the five forest soils. 3. Exchangeable canon concentrations in the soil leachates, which looked slightly different among the five forest soils, were the highest in pH2.0 treatment. Hydrogen ion comsumption capability by exchangeable canon was the highest in Dark red forest soil followed by Volcanic ash, Red and Yellow, Gray brown and Brown forest soils when artificial acid rain were treated.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.359-375
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• 2018

The long term ecological effects have been reported in natural forest ecosystem due to various anthropogenic disturbances, especially in tropics of the world. The present study was carried out in the sanctuary area of central India to assess the changes on litter biomass, litterfall pattern and soil attributes under different disturbance regimes. The study area includes three forest circles i.e., Bhoramdeo, Jamunpani and Salehwara each comprising three disturbances regimes viz., high, medium and low severity of biotic pressure. A noticeable variation and impact were recorded in different sites. The impact varies significantly from least disturbed sites to highly disturbed sites across the circle and among different disturbances level. The seasonal mean total forest floor biomass across the forest circles varied from 2.18 to $3.30t\;ha^{-1}$. It was found highest under lightly disturbed site and lowest under heavily disturbed site. Total litterfall varied from 5.11 to $7.06t\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ across the forest circle. Lowest litterfall was recorded at heavily disturbed site while highest in lightly disturbed site. Annual turnover of litter varied from 69-73% and the turnover time ranged between 1.37-1.45 years. The turn over time was higher for heavily disturbed site and lower for lightly disturbed site. The heavily disturbed site of all the circle showed the sandy loam soil texture, whereas moderately and lightly disturbed site comprised of sandy loam, sandy clay loam and clay soil texture, respectively. The bulk density decreases from heavily disturbed site to lightly disturbed site and the pH of soils ranged from 5.57-6.89 across the circle. Across the circle the total soil nitrogen ranged from 0.12-0.21%, phosphorus from 10.03-24.00 kg and Potassium from $139.88-448.35kg\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. Our results demonstrate that anthropogenic disturbances regime significantly influences forest floors in terms of mass, composition and dynamics along with litterfall rate and soil properties.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.184-191
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• 2004

Forest soils were collected from various sites adjacent to the heavy industrial complexes and soil solutions were extracted to characterize the chemical properties and to find factors affecting forest decline by acid deposition. Concentrations of $NO_3{^-}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $F^-$ and Al in the soil solutions collected from industrial complexes were 2-33 times higher than those from the non-industrial areas. pH and Al concentrations were significantly correlated with $NO_3{^-}$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ concentrations. Forest soils from Onsan and Ulsan regions had very low Ca and Mg concentrations in the soil solutions. In these sites, the molar ratios of Ca/Al and Mg/Al were also lower than 2 and 1, respectively. Aluminum concentrations in the A and B horizons were 547 and $683mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively, which were considered to be high enough to inhibit tree growth. Magnesium deficiency in A horizon and high concentrations of Al and Mn in B horizon were considered as the major limiting factors for tree growth by inhibiting the uptake of Ca and Mg and causing the imbalance of nutrients in both soil solution and trees.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 1989

The presence of endomycorrhizal fungi was examined on the soils collected from the followings; Cryptomeria japonica dominant forest (Wan San Park, Jun Ju city) and two coast areas (Digitaria sanginalis dominant; Sin Chang Ri, Young Il Kun and Pragmited communis dominant; Sap Kyo Cheon, A San). Six species in Endogonales were identified; Glomus intraradices, G. occulum, G. clarum, Acaulospora bireticulata, Scutellospora aurigloba, and Sc. gilmorei.