• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.736-745
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• 2016

This research was conducted to evaluate the impact of various pre-planting $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios on the growth of plug seedlings of 'Bool-am No.3' Chinese cabbage. With fixation of the pre-planting N concentrations to $300mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in a peatmoss+coir dust+perlite (3.5:3.5:3, v/v/v) medium, the $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios were varied to 0:100, 27:73, 50:50, 73:27, 100:0. Then, the each of root media containing various ratios of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ as well as equal concentrations of other essential nutrients was packed into 72-cell plug trays. After seeds of 'Bool-am No.3' Chinese cabbage were sown, the seedling growths were measured 2 and 4 weeks after sowing. The weekly analysis of root media and end-crop tissue analysis for mineral nutrients 4 weeks after seed sowing were also conducted. As the seedlings grew up, the pH of the root media increased, however ECs in all treatments of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios decreased. The concentrations of K, Ca and Mg in root media were higher in the treatments of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (100:0) and $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (73:27) than those of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (0:100) and $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (27:73) 2 weeks after seed sowing. But the concentrations of K, Ca, Mg and Zn were get lowered in all treatments and the differences among treatments were not significant 4 weeks after sowing. The highest $NH_4{^+}$ and lowest $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations of the root media were observed in the $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (100:0) among all treatments. Contrary to these, the treatment of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (0:100) had the lowest $NH_4{^+}$ and highest $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations. The seedling growth in terms of fresh and dry weights of aerial part were the highest in the treatment of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (23:73) at 2 weeks after sowing and those of $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (50:50) at 4 weeks after sowing. The survival rate of seedlings in $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ (100:0) treatment were 19% and the growth of aerial part 4 weeks after sowing was the poorest among all treatments tested. The results mentioned above indicate that the pre-planting $NH_4{^+}$ ratio in inert media should not exceed 25% in plug stage 1 through 3 (until 2 true leaf development) and 50% in plug stage 4 (after 2 true leaves to transplant).

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2019

This study was conducted to determine the effects of a pre-planting fertilizers with various $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios in a coir dust:peatmoss:perlite (3.5:3.5:3.0, v/v/v) medium on the growth of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Nokkwang) plug seedling. Nitrogen levels were fixed to $300mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and the $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios were varied to 0:100, 27:73, 50:50, 73:27, and 100:0. The 50-cell trays were filled with treatment media containing pre-plant fertilizers, then seeds were sown. After seeds were germinated, the trays were moved to greenhouse and seedlings were feed with 13-2-13 and 20-9-20 fertilizers, alternatively. The changes in pH and EC were measured every week and soil solution for nutrient concentrations were analyzed in week 0, 3, and 7. The measurements of seedling growths as well as analysis of tissue nutrient contents were also conducted in week 7. The varied $NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$ ratios did not influence on the pHs of root media after incorporation of pre-planting fertilizers, but the ECs were heightened as proportion of $NH_4{^+}$ to $NO_3{^-}$ were elevated. During the raising of seedlings, the pHs rose over time in the treatments of 0:100 and 27:73 ($NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$). The concentrations of all macro-elements in root media decreased gradually as seedlings grew in all treatments. The seedling growths 7 weeks after seed sowing were the highest in the treatments of 27:73 and 50:50 ($NH_4{^+}:NO_3{^-}$) and those became worse in the treatments of higher $NH_4{^+}$ ratios than 73%. In terms of inorganic element contents based on the dry weight of above ground tissue, the treatment of 0:100 showed the lowest content of Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Mn, and Zn. Based on the results, it is desired that $NH_4{^+}$ ratio in pre-planting fertilization is maintained to be 50% or less for the raising of hot pepper plug seedlings.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2014

This research was conducted to develop root media containing ground and aged pine bark (GAPB) and ground and raw pine bark (GRPB). After analysis of physico chemical properties, the pine barks were blended with peat moss (PM) or coir dust (CD) in various ratios to formulate 12 root media. Then, two out of 12 root media were chosen based on the physical properties for further experiments. The pre-planting nutrient charge fertilizers (PNCF) were incorporated into two root media and chemical properties were analysed again. The total porosity (TP), container capacity (CC), and air-filled porosity (AFP) of GAPB were 78.7%. 39.4%, and 38.3%, respectively, while those of GRPB were 74.7%, 41.2%, and 33.4%, respectively. The percentage of easily available water (EAW, from CC to 4.90 kPa tension) and buffering water (BW, 4.91-9.81 kPa tension) in GAPB were 12.7% and 8.5%, respectively, which were a little lower than the 13.5% and 8.8% in GRPB. The pH and EC were not different significantly, but cation exchange capacity was different between the two pine barks (GAPB: pH 5.26, EC $0.61dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, CEC $15.7meq{\cdot}100g^{-1}$; GRPB: pH 5.19, EC $0.32dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, CEC $9.32meq{\cdot}100g^{-1}$). The concentrations of exchangeable cations in GAPB were Ca 0.32, K 0.05, Mg 0.27 and $0.12cmol+{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, whereas those in GRPB were Ca 0.28, K 0.08, Mg 0.25 and $0.09cmol+{\cdot}kg^{-1}$. The concentrations of $PO_4$-P, $NH_4$-N and $NO_3$-N were 485.8, 0.62 and $0.91mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in GAPB and 578, 1.00 and $0.82mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in GRPB, respectively, when those were analyzed in the solution of the saturated paste. The TP, CC and AFP in the two selected media were 89.3 and 76.3, and 13.0% in PM+GAPB (8:2, v/v) and 88.2, 68.2 and 20.0% in CD+GRPB (8:2), respectively. The pHs and ECs were 3.8 and $0.24dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in PM+GAPB which were a little lower than 5.8 and $0.65dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in CD+GRPB. However, the pHs analysed before and after incorporation of PNCF in the two root media did not show large differences. This is because the solubility of dolomitic lime is very low, and the pH it is expected to rise gradually when crops are cultivated int he root media. The information obtained in this study should facilitate effective formulation of root media containing pine bark.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.973-979
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient solution on the growth, nutrient uptake of potted kalanchoe plants ($Kalanchoe$ $blossfeldiana$ 'New Alter') and the nutrient accumulation at the growing media with growth stage in ebb and flow subirrigation systems. Significant differences in leaf area, plant height, and dry weight of the plants were found among the different ECs of nutrient solution of 0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and $3.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Particularly the difference in plant growth became significantly greater from 5 weeks after treatment. The overall growth was the highest at EC $1.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Leaf area, plant height, and dry weight were maintained higher when EC increased to $2.4dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, but rapidly decreased after EC $3.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The uptake of NO3-N was the greatest while that of $Mg^{2+}$ was the lowest at EC $1.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, even though small differences were found among macro elements. The EC at the top layer of the growing media was 1 to 3 times higher than that at the bottom layer. Nutrient accumulation was accelerated in both the top and bottom layers with growth stage. At EC $3.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, the growth of the plants was suppressed due to higher nutrient accumulation at the growing media. From the results, the strength and composition of nutrient solution should be determined by considering nutrient accumulation at the growing media in addition to EC of nutrient solution in ebb and flow subirrigation systems.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2015

This research was conducted to investigate the changes in moisture retention capacities of expanded rice-hull (ERH)-based root media and their influences on the growth of mother and daughter plants in vegetative propagation of 'Seolhyang' strawberry. The proportion of water at the container capacity of ERH medium was in the range of 20 to 23%. This range was lower than the 60 to 66% of strawberry-specialized medium, the 30 to 34% of soil mother material (SMM) and the 30 to 35% of loamy sand. The moisture content of ERH was reduced to 10 to 12% at 8 hours after irrigation, and there were large variations among replications of ERH medium. Among four kinds of root media formulated to contain ERH, the medium of ERH + coir dust (CD) (55 + 45%, v/v) had 26.5 and 32.5% water contents at 20 and 40 days after irrigation to daughter plants, respectively. The m edia o f ERH + sandy loam (S L) and E RH + S MM showed similar trends i n moisture r etention. The pH and EC i n the all root media tested were in the range of 6.7 to 7.1 and 0.03 to $0.08dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, respectively. The pHs and ECs measured at 20 and 40 days after irrigation were not significantly different in each root medium. Among the root media formulated to contain ERH, the growth of daughter plants was the highest in the treatment of ERH + SL (55 + 45%, v/v). As the blending rate of coir dust was elevated in the ERH + CD media, moisture retention capacity increased gradually, but the growth of daughter plants became worse even though the medium showed higher moisture retention capacity than other root media tested. The growth of roots and aboveground tissues of daughter plants deteriorated in the root media formulated by blending ERH + perlite (PE) at various ratios. The results of this research suggest the optimum formulations of root media and management of moisture content in raising of strawberry daughter plants when ERH is a component of root media.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2015

Objective of this research was to investigate the influence of compositions and concentrations of fertilizer solutions on the vegetative growth and nutrient uptake of 'Seolhyang' strawberry. To achieve this, the solutions of acid fertilizer (AF), neutral fertilizer (NF), and basic fertilizer (BF) were prepared at concentrations of 100 or $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ based on N and applied during the 100 days after transplanting. The changes in chemical properties of the soil solution were analysed every two weeks, and crop growth measurements as well as tissue analyses for mineral contents were conducted 100 days after fertilization. The growth was the highest in the treatments with BF, followed by those with NF and AF. The heaviest fresh and dry weights among treatments were 151.3 and 37.8 g, respectively, with BF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. In terms of tissue nutrient contents, the highest N, P and Na contents, of 3.08, 0.54, and 0.10%, respectively, were observed in the treatment with NF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The highest K content was 2.83%, in the treatment with AF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, while the highest Ca and Mg were 0.98 and 0.42%, respectively, in BF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The AF treatments had higher tissue Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents compared to those of NF or BF when fertilizer concentrations were controlled to equal. During the 100 days after fertilization, the highest and lowest pH in soil solution of root media among all treatments tested were 6.67 in BF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and 4.69 in AF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. The highest and lowest ECs were $5.132dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in BF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and $1.448dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in BF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. For the concentrations of macronutrients in the soil solution of root media, the AF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ treatment gave the highest $NH_4$ concentrations followed by NF $200mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and AF $100mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The K concentrations in all treatments rose gradually after day 42 in all treatments. When fertilizer concentrations were controlled to equal, the highest Ca and Mg concentrations were observed in AF followed by NF and BF until day 84 in fertilization. The BF treatments produced the highest $NO_3$ concentrations, followed by NF and AF. The trends in the change of $PO_4$ concentration were similar in all treatments. The $SO_4$ concentrations were higher in treatments with AF than those with NF or BF until day 70 in fertilization. These results indicate that compositions of fertilizer solution should to be modified to contain more alkali nutrients when 'Seolhyang' strawberry is cultivated through inert media and nutri-culture systems.