• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.425-432
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• 2002

This study was carried out to develop an automatic mixing system of nutrient solution for closed-loop hydroponics using ion electrodes. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 1. It appeared that ion-electrodes had not to be soaked into nutrient solution for a long time since it was much less durable than EC or PH sensors. Once ion-electrodes were soaked into real nutrient solution for a long time, they became unstable. 2. ion measurement modules, which were able to sample recirculated nutrient solution and easily wash and dry ion-electrodes, were developed in order to use ion-electrodes continuously. 3. The results of calibration tests on three kinds of ion electrodes presented that the time required to read measurement data was over 30 seconds. Using the calibration data the regression equations for the ion electrodes were developed. 4. An automatic nutrient-solution mixing system using the three kinds of ion electrodes was developed and then its accuracy was examined. The control errors of the mixing system using ion electrodes were in the range of 9.8 to 12%.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.463-472
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• 2014

Ion imbalance in recycled nutrient solutions is caused by selective ion uptake of plants, which occurs at different rates in different growth stages. The objectives of this study were to investigate the ion balances in both recycled nutrient solutions and rockwool media using different renewal patterns for the nutrient solutions, and to analyze the subsequent effects on uptake of water and nutrients. Over 12 weeks of paprika cultivation, two different renewal patterns (week units) of 6-4-2 and 8-2-2 weeks were compared with a constant renewal pattern of 4-4-4 weeks (control). The nutrient solution in the reservoir tank was constantly maintained at EC $2.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ and pH 5.5-6.5. The changes in the ion balance with the 4-4-4 week pattern were smaller than those with the other treatments. In the early growth stage, however, the ion balances similarly changed among all treatments. Greater changes were subsequently observed for the 6-4-2 week pattern. Although fruit yield and shoot fresh weight of paprika were the lowest with 6-4-2 renewal pattern, no significant differences were observed. Our results indicate that renewal intervals can be extended in consideration of growth stage for more efficient and practical operations in closed soilless cultures.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2003

A simple disposable thick-film potentiometric strip has been developed and evaluated for hydroponics application. The strip consisted of low ion-selective electrodes (ISE) fabricated by screen-printing technology. The electrochemical responses of ion sensors for nitrate, ammonium, potassium, and magnesium were measured with specially designed 16-channel low voltage signal transducers. The analytical characteristics of the sensors were comparable with those of conventional ISE sensors. The thick-film sensors exhibit linear relationships over five concentration decades. The concentration of N $O_3$ - ion in standard solution can be determined by direct potentiometric measurements without any conditioning before measurements. However, measurement of $K^{+}$, N $H_4$$^{+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ ionic concentrations in nutrient solutions seems not feasible.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2011

Individual ion concentrations and ionic contributions to EC reading in the circulated nutrient solution are the important factors to be considered for stable EC-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to determine appropriate ion-analysis intervals of the circulated nutrient solutions based on ion concentration, ion balance, and ion electrical conductivity under different renewal intervals in EC-based nutrient control systems for sweet peppers (Capsicum annum L. 'Fiesta') in early growth stage. Average node numbers of the plants were 13 and 18 when the experiment started and finished, respectively, and three plants were grown in each rockwool slab. Four different renewal intervals of circulated nutrient solutions such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were used as treatment. Nutrient solutions were supplied to the plants based on integrated radiation. Drainage was collected into drain tanks after irrigation ended in the day and then mixed with fresh water until the EC reaches 2.69 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The replenished nutrient solution was supplied to the plants in the next day. Ion concentrations of the individual ions periodically analyzed in the circulated nutrient solutions showed no significant differences among the treatments during the experimental period. Ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, and $Cl^-$ varied within 5-8, 11-14, 2.0-2.7, 0.5-0.6, 14-19, 4-5, 1-4, and 0.3-0.5 $meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance showed a consistent tendency over all the treatments and especially $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ : ${PO_4}^{3-}$ played great roles in the cation and anion balances in the nutrient solutions, respectively. Activity coefficients of ions such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ varied within 0.8-0.9 and those of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ varied within 0.5-0.6, showing little changes with time. Ionic contributions of $K^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$ to EC reading were the greatest followed by $Ca^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ in the order. From the results, we thought that allowable ranges in ion concentration, ion balance, and subsequent individual ionic contributions to EC reading would be obtained within 4-week renewal interval of nutrient solution in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the interaction of selenate and sulfate ion in nutrient solution supplyed with selenate ion. At early growth stage, the growth of Mongolian wormwood was best at 3mM sulfate ion and 2mg/$\ell$Na$_2$SeO$_4$ treatment. As they were grown and matured, at the later growth stage, the effect of antagonism between selenate and sulfate ion on the growth of each plant decreased. At supplying with selenate ion in nutrient solution, the uptake of selenate by plant had negative correlation with sulfate ion concentration in nutrient solution. The higher sulfate ion concentration, the less selenium uptake. However, the effect of antagonistic interaction of selenate and sulfate ion on the selenium uptake increased with plant age. Whereas, the uptake of sulfate ion had positive correlation with sulfate ion concentration in nutrient solution at supplying with selenate ion in nutrient solution. The uptake of sulfate ion increased with increase of sulfate ion concentration in nutrient solution. The effect of this interaction with selenate and sulfate ion increased with growth and maturity of plant. However, at 3mM sulfate ion concentration in nutrient solution, sulfate ion concentration in plant tissue decreased markedly.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 1992

As the automation of nutrient solution management proceeds in the field of hydroponics, effective supporting systems to manage the nutrient solution by computer become needed. This study was attempt to predict the EC of nutrient solution using the neural networks. The multilayer perceptron consisting of 3 layers with the back propagation learning algorithm was selected for EC prediction, of which nine variables in the input layer were the concentrations of each ion and one variable in the output layer the EC of nutrient solution. The meq unit in ion concentration was selected fir input variable in the input layer. After the 10,000 learning sweeps with 108 sample data, the comparison of predicted and measured ECs for 72 test data showed good agreements with the correlation coefficient of 0.998. In addition, the predicted ECs by neural network showed relatively equal or closer to the measured ones than those by current complicated models.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1998

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of sulfate ion concentration in nutrient solution on the growth and qualify of Mongolian wormwood (Artemisia mongolica var. tenuifolia). Sulfate ion concentration was treated 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3mM using the modified nutrient solution composition for herb plants developed by European Vegetable R & D Center in Belgium. The growth of Mongolian wormwood was good at 3mM treatment and dry weight was best at 3mM treatment, Chlorophyll content increased with sulfate ion concentration. Mineral content did not show any significant difference among treatments. But Ca content in tissue markedly decreased at 3mM treatment. Sulfate ion uptake increased in proportion to sulfate ion concentration in nutreint solution, the higher sulfate ion concentration, the more uptake of sulfate ion by plant. At 1mM sulfate ion treatment, essential oil content was best, but the higher sulfate ion concentration resulted in decrease of essential oil content.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.298-304
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• 2010

Nutrient uptake by plants and drainage ratio in culture beds can affect ion balance and concentrations of nutrient solutions in electrical conductivity (EC)-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to analyze ion concentration changes with time and drainage ratio under EC-based nutrient control in closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annum L. 'Boogie'). At first experiment, ion concentrations of the nutrient solution were periodically analysed while collected drainage was being reused by mixing with fresh nutrient solution at a dilution rate of EC $2.2\;dSm^{-1}$. Changes in ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, and $PO_4^{3-}$ were 1.13, 5.35, 0.92, 0.9, 1.10, $0.19\;meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance such as $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and $SO_4^{2-}$ : $NO_3^-$ were mainly affected during the recirculation of nutrient solution. At second experiment, ion concentrations and EC of drainage were compared before and after replenishment under different four drainage ratios of 7%, 16%, 39%, and 51%. Ion ratios of the recirculated nutrient solutions such as $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ for cation and $SO_4^{2-}$ : $NO_3^-$ for anion were investigated. ECs of drainage decreased with increase of drainage ratio and each ion concentration showed the same trends as EC did. Ion balances in drainage with drainage ratio were a little different from each other, but each ratio could be corrected by replenishment process. The ion balance at 7% drainage ratio was closest to initial ratio and followed by 16%, 51%, and 39% in the order. Ion balance such as $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and $NO_3^-$ : $PO_4^{3-}$ were mainly affected the correction process.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.1 s.120
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the applicability of PVC membrane-based ion-selective electrodes for macronutrients (K, Ca, and N) by measuring of potassium, calcium, nitrate ions in hydroponic nutrient solution. The capabilities of two ion-selective membranes with varying chemical compositions for each ion were evaluated in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and lifetime to choose sensing elements suitable for measuring typical ranges of nutrient concentrations in hydroponic solutions. The selected calcium and nitrate ion-selective membranes showed effectively sensitive responses to calcium and nitrate ions with lifetimes of 25 and 15 days, respectively. The addition of a cation additive to the potassium membrane cocktail allowed its sensitivity to be increased whereas its lifetime was reduced from 30 days to 10 days.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.348-353
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• 2007

A solid state ion sensor module has been developed and evaluated for hydroponic nutrients analysis. The sensor module consisted of five ion-selective electrodes (ISE) fabricated by screen-printing technology. The electrochemical responses of ion sensors for nitrate, ammonium, potassium, calcium, and pH were measured with specially designed 7-channel low voltage signal transducers. The analytical characteristics of the sensors were comparable with those of conventional ISE sensors. The solid state ion sensors exhibit linear relationships over five concentration decades. Detection limit of the sensors were $5.6{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}1.6{\times}10^{-7}M$ depends on ions. Performance test results showed that relative errors of measured ion concentrations were less than 5% for $NO_3{^-},\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+}$ ion, and pH. The concentration of $NO_3{^-},\;NH_4{^+},\;K^+,\;Ca^{2+}$, and pH ion in standard solution and nutrient solutions could be determined by direct potentiometric measurements without any conditioning before measurements.