• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.629-634
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• 1998

Factory-style plant production system aims to produce the standardized horticultural products with high quality and cleanness. In Korea, researches for year-round leaf vegetables production system are in progress and the most of them are focused on environment control. Automating technologies for harvesting, transporting and grading need to be developed. A lettuce harvesting system applicable to the plant factory was studied. It was composed of an articulated robot with a cutter and a gripper, lettuce feeding conveyor and air blower. Success rate of the developed system was 94.7 %. The system carried out harvesting a lettuce smoothly and the harvesting time was about 6 seconds per lettuce. The results showed a feasibility of robotic lettuce harvesting.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.240-244
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different surfactants on the fertilizer reduction and increase of the mineral nutrients uptake of lettuce (Latuca sativa L. 'Hanbatchungchima') in deep flow technique culture. The measured items from lettuce leaves expanded fully were growth, photosynthetic and transpiration rate, and mineral nutrient content K, Ca and Mg, respectively. The highest growth were observed at $0.3mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ polyvinyl alcohol (PV4-95) treatment, including lettuce grown in the half strength of nutrient solution. The highest photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and mineral nutrient content were observed at $0.3mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ calcium lignosulfate (CLS) treatment. Therefore, high-quality leaf lettuce production could be achieved by apply proper surfactants PVA-95 and CLS, which can cut down the total amount of fertilizer and increase uptake of mineral nutrients.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the optimum environment for leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) in a plant factory to increase mass-production efficiency of quality leaf lettuce. Transpiration rate and $CO_2$ assimilation rate were increased with increasing the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). The highest fresh weight and dry weight were observed at the PPFD of 200 and 300 U moi $m^{-2}$ $s^{-l}$, respectively. The optimum aerial environment for the growth and quality of leaf lettuce in the plant factory was determined to be over 200 $\mu$mol $m^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$ for PPFB. Although the interaction between light intensity and nutrient level was not significant, the lettuce growth was the best under electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.8 mS $cm^{-1}$ / at high light intensity (250 $\mu$mol $m^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$ ) and EC of 2.4 mS cm-1 at low light level (150 $\mu$mol $m^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$ ) respectively.y.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.140-144
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• 2001

Field investigations were initiated to determine possible new 'ssam' vegetable that could be grown during the summer season in highland. Korean 'ssam' means cooked rice in vegetables. The 'ssam' vegetable is called that those leaves has been used for wrapping at meal. Seventeen leafy vegetables were studied, including chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. flavescens DC.), leaf broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica), Chinese leek (Allium tuberosum Rottl.), Japanese hornwort (Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk), red leaf mustard (Brassica juncea L.), green leaf mustard (Brassica juncea L.), leaf parsley (Petroselinum crispum Nijim), pakchoi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Jusl.) tatsoi (Brassica campestris var. narisoma), kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), collard (Brassica oleracea var. acephala), Korean mint (Agastache rugosa O. Kuntze), romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam.), red leaf chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. folisum), red chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. folisum), green leaf chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. folisum), and sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). Date of the first harvest in 1999 was July 10th in chard, leaf broccoli, red mustard, mustard, leaf parsley, pakchoi, tatsoi, kale, collard, Korean mint, red leaf chicory, red chicory, green leaf chicory, and sprouting broccoli. Date of the first harvest for Chinese leek, Japanese hornwort, and romaine lettuce was from the middle of June to the late of August. Based on ratings on marketable yield, we found good leaf shape, taste and yield in chard, red leaf mustard, green leaf mustard, pakchoi, tatsoi, romaine lettuce, red leaf chicory, red chicory, and green leaf chicory. Even though the most of all these vegetables were obtained high scores by test panels in shape, taste and quality, but some of them revealed inadequate leaf size as a 'ssam' vegetable. That problem will be solved by control of harvesting time. On the basis of this observation, chard, red leaf mustard, green leaf mustard, pakchoi, tatsoi, romaine lettuce, red leaf chicory, red chicory, and green leaf chicory were rated as promising 'ssam' vegetable by analysis of profits, adaptation, and quality.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.664-672
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• 2012

As an artificial light source, light-emitting diode (LED) with a short wavelength range can be used in closed-type plant production systems. Among various wavelength ranges in visible light, individual light spectra induce distinguishing influences on plant growth and development. In this study, we determined the effects of monochromatic LEDs on leaf shape index, growth and the accumulation of phytochemicals in a red leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. 'Sunmang') and a green leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. 'Grand rapid TBR'). Lettuce seedlings grown under normal growing conditions ($20^{\circ}C$, fluorescent lamp + high pressure sodium lamp, $130{\pm}5{\mu}mmol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, 12 hours photoperiod) for 18 days were transferred into incubators at $20^{\circ}C$ equipped with various monochromatic LEDs (blue LED, 456 nm; green LED, 518 nm; red LED, 654 nm; white LED, 456 nm + 558 nm) under the same light intensity and photoperiod ($130{\pm}7{\mu}mmol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, 12 hours photoperiod). Leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, shoot/root ratio, SPAD value, total phenolic concentration, antioxidant capacity, and the expression of a key gene involved in the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), were measured at 9 and 23 days after transplanting. The leaf shape indexes of both lettuce cultivars subjected to blue or white LEDs were similar with those of control during whole growth stage. However, red and green LEDs induced significantly higher leaf shape index than the other treatments. The green LED had a negative impact on the lettuce growth. Most of growth characteristics such as fresh and dry weights of shoots and leaf area were the highest in both cultivars subjected to red LED treatment. In case of red leaf lettuce plants, shoot fresh weight under red LED was 3.8 times higher than that under green LED at 23 days after transplanting. In contrast, the accumulation of chlorophyll, phenolics including antioxidants in lettuce plants showed an opposite trend compared with growth. SPAD value, total phenolic concentration, and antioxidant capacity of lettuce grown under blue LED were significantly higher than those under other LED treatments. In addition, PAL gene was remarkably activated by blue LED at 9 days after transplanting. Thus, this study suggested that the light quality using LEDs is a crucial factor for morphology, growth, and phytochemicals of two lettuce cultivars.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.63-68
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• 2018

Purpose - Lettuce (Lactuca sativ L.) is one of the economically important vegetable crops, which worldwide market value is over 100 billion U.S. dollar. In Korea, about 89.7 kilo ton of lettuce was produced in 3400ha in 2016, recoded as No. 1 vegetable crop in domestic green house production. However, recently, domestic lettuce production and cultivation areas are all getting decreased. Thus, novel approaches are needed to be implemented to revive the production. Research design, data and methodology - In this review paper, we first prioritized the end-user traits which are imperative to positively stimulate the domestic lettuce market and discussed relevant genomics strategies. Especially, we assessed a possibility whether school meal program would be a potential niche market. Results - The genomics technologies, which become widely applied in the crop biotechnology since 2008 when next generation sequencing method was developed, may be a good solution in the crop improvement, efficiently gathering valuable information of agriculturally useful traits. Significantly, in lettuce, the high quality whole genome sequence, based on Lactuca sativa cv. Salinas, is publically available and this genomics platform, thus, would be implemented in lettuce breeding program to innovate relevant end-user traits both for the farmers and customers, including the disease resistance to the Fusarium wilt, productivity under hot weather conditions, various nutritional qualities and so forth. These improvements will boost domestic lettuce industries in the near future. Conclusions - Due to the nutritional distinctions comparing to the western style lettuces, domestic leaf lettuces could be one of the important vegetables in the school meal programs. To make it happen, we would better devise diverse recipes to make a salad with it, instead of only using as a wrap vegetable. Meanwhile, novel lettuce varieties need to be developed, which are favorable to the students and also easy to be handled with while processing. Overall, to achieve international competence in the lettuce industries, we need to create elite lettuce varieties that satisfies domestic farmers as well as customers, suitable to various niche markets, such as school meal program. Thus, efficient breeding programs using genomics approaches should be established in advance and careful monitoring on the preference of the related customers for a niche market be continued persistently.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.267-272
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• 2012

Overcoming harsh light environment, as well as increased growth of crops even in high-quality production can play an important role when using the LED light system of photosynthetic products will be able to effectively reduce consumption. In this study, low efficiency of farm greenhouses, growing annual reduction in income due to rising operating costs and increase crop growth by inducing the proper planting environment Factory-type raise farmers' income and at the same time will contribute to the increase of Light device using LED Supplemental through photosynthesis, promote and improve product quality, plant growth regulators are considered possible for them to develop more efficient LED devices and LED Optical processing devices of Light leaf lettuce grown using normal fluorescent or incandescent bulbs grown in the results than the growth can see that the speed improvements. Usually shipped from seedling to harvest leaf lettuce from 25 to 30, whereas optical processing device be required red light (wavelength: 645nm) using a leaf of lettuce grown enough to be harvested after seven days increased the rate of growth. In addition, red light (wavelength: 645nm) and blue light (wavelength: 470nm) emitting at the same time, room, and grown for 5 days to harvest the growth rate was fast enough.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.94-107
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• 1997

Producing organic farm products is one of the high-payoff farming practices considering the rapid increase of consumer's purchasing power. The purpose of this study is to identify the optimal organic farming system in relation to farm income. To cope with the above objectives, present farming conditions and profitability of 15 farmers producing organic products including rice and leaf vegetables as lettuse and cabbage were surveyed in Hongsung and Ahsan Gun, Chungnam Province. Based on the surveyed data, maximization of organic farm income were analyzed under the constrained conditions such as limited monthly labour inputs and competitive use of land by Linear Programming Model. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. 1. In the profitability analysis of 15 farmers producing organic products, rice farmers could earn their farm income more than that of conventional farmers by 50%. On the other hand, the controlled lettuce farmers could get more about 100% than that of it. But the controlled cabbage farm could get more about 40% of it. These organic farm products were saled at high prices comparing with the prices of conventional farm products by 170% ~ 230% even though the crop yields produced by organic materials had decreased. 2. According to the labor requirement of the organically produced crops, rice cultivation was needed more labour inputs than the conventional farming method by 130%. On the other hand lettuce and cabbage could saved labour requirement by 40% and 80% of those respectively. Especially for the rice cultivation concern, higher labor requirement was due to the activities as organic fertilization, soil preparation and pest and weed controll, etc. 3. With the surveyed data from farmers who produced farm commodities, L.P. analysis was implemented to find out the optimul farming system and the maximum income. According to the results of L.P. analysis, 58% of total farm income could get more than the conventional farming system In the case of rice cultivation, one ha of paddy was recommendable to save more labour inputs than the controlled leaf vegetables such as lettuse and cabbage. However, in the controlled leaf vegatables, only 73% of total upland equivalent to 0.3 ha should be cultivated under the condition of labor shortage as the restricted 4 workers. And increasing the size of hogs raising should be recommened to achieve self-sufficiency of organic fertilizer. As pointed out the possibility of organic farming, present farmers producing organic farm products could be able to maximize their income by expanding organic farm size with regard to all conditions of our organic industry. Of course, there are many difficulties in the course of developing organic agriculture. So Government should effort to support the development of our organic agriculture considering the various aspects of production, marketing, Quality certification of organic produces.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.225-236
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Hydroponics is one of the methods for evaluating plant production using the inorganic nutrient solutions, which is applied under the artificial light conditions of plant factory system. However, the application of the conventional inorganic nutrients for hydroponics caused several environmental problems: waste from culture mediums and high nitrate concentration in plants. Organic nutrients are generally irrigated as a supplementary fertilizer for plant growth promotion under field or greenhouse conditions. Hydroponic culture using organic nutrients derived from the agricultural by-products such as dumped stems, leaves or immature fruits is rarely considered in plant factory system. Effect of organic or conventional inorganic nutrient solutions on the growth and nutrient absorption pattern of green and red leaf lettuces was investigated in this experiment under fluorescent lamps (FL) and mixture Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Single solution of tomatoes (TJ) and kales (K) deriving from agricultural by-products including leaves or stems and its mixed solution (mixture ration 1:1) with conventional inorganic Yamazaki (Y) were supplied for hydroponics under the plant factory system. The Yamazaki solution was considered as a control. 'Jeockchima' and 'Cheongchima' lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) were used as plant materials. The seedlings which developed 2~3 true leaves were grown under the light qualities of FL and mixed LED lights of blue plus red plus white of 1:2:1 mixture in energy ratio for 35 days. Light intensity of the light sources was controlled at 180 μmol/㎡/s on the culture bed. The single and mixture nutrient solutions of organic and/or inorganic components which controlled at 1.5 dS/m EC and 5.8 pH were regularly irrigated by the deep flow technique (DFT) system on the culture gutters. Number of unfolded leaves of the seedlings grown under the single or mixed nutrient solutions were significantly increased compared to the conventional Y treatment. Leaf extension of 'Jeockchima' under the mixture LED radiation condition was not affected by Y and YK or YTJ mixture treatments. SPAD value in 'Jeockchima' leaves exposed by FL under the YK mixture medium was approximately 45 % higher than under conventional Y treatment. Otherwise, the maximum SPAD value in the leaves of 'Cheongchima' seedlings was shown in YK treatment under the mixture LED lights. NO₃-N contents in Y treatment treated with inorganic nutrient at the end of the experiment were up to 75% declined rather than increased over 60 % in the K and TJ organic treatment. CONCLUSION: Growth of the seedlings was affected by the mixture treatments of the organic and inorganic solutions, although similar or lower dry weight was recorded than in the inorganic treatment Y under the plant factory system. Treatment Y containing the highest NO₃-N content among the considered nutrients influenced growth increment of the seedlings comparing to the other nutrients. However effect of the higher NO₃-N content in the seedling growth was different according to the light qualities considered in the experiment as shown in leaf expansion, pigmentation or dry weight promotion under the single or mixed nutrients.