• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-34
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• 2006

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of cutting interval and cutting height on the yield and nutrient composition of hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus) when grown on a sandy soil in the Northeast of Thailand. The cutting intervals compared were 30, 40 and 50 days between harvests and the cutting heights 30, 40 and 50 cm above ground level. The experiment was a $3{\times}3$ factorial layout in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications-giving a total of 36 plots each $3{\times}3m^2$. Harvested plant material was weighed, dried and the ground subsamples taken for analyses of crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ash, ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE). At the last harvest the hedge lucerne samples were separated to determine leaf to stem ratios and then analyzed for nutrient composition in the leaf and stem. Results showed that increasing the cutting interval (i.e. advancing age of maturity) increased dry matter and nutrient yields significantly. In terms of nutrient content, it also increased the crude fiber, ash, ether extract and nitrogen free extract percent in the plant. However, crude protein percent was markedly decreased as the cutting interval increased. Increasing cutting height had no effect on dry matter yield and yields of nutrients, but in terms of nutrient content, it increased crude protein and ash content, but decreased crude fiber content. The percent EE and NFE in the plant was unaffected by cutting height. From the results presented it is clear that cutting a stand of hedge lucerne every 40 to 50 days will achieve greater dry matter and nutrient yields than cutting more frequently, at 30 days. The cutting height at harvest, whether 30, 40 or 50 cm above ground level had no effect on dry matter or nutrient yields of hedge Lucerne. Hedge lucerne therefore offers the Thai poultry farmer a useful alternative protein supplement for poultry diets rather than relying on the more expensive soybean meal. As it can be readily and successfully grown on a range of soil types and climates throughout Thailand, hedge lucerne also offers the Thai farmer a valuable additional source of income.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.509-515
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• 2011

For this study the 4 sub-watersheds Okdong A, Hankang B, Jecheon A and Hankang C which are the main streams of the Han River within the mid-level region of Chungju Dam are selected and the analysis of soils has been carried out through the soil basic survey. When it comes to the soil erosion amount the soil nutrient load has been calculated by utilizing the RUSLE erosion equation. In case of the data related to the measurement of water flow and quality the information available from the "Water Information System" one of the websites run by the Ministry of Environment has been used to calculate the water pollution load. The correlation between the soil nutrient load and the water pollutant load has been analyzed through making comparison. According to the results related to the soil nutrient load of each sub-watershed the Hankang C shows the highest values TOC 29,986.92 ton/yr, TN 3,860.33 ton/yr and TP 973.97 ton/yr respectively. Even when it comes to the loads related to water quality the Hankang C shows also comparatively high values TOC 6,625.64 ton/yr, TN 7,335.01 ton/yrand TP 145.49 ton/yr respectively. The soil nutrient loads of the sub-watersheds are shown to increase towards the lower stream meaning the load increases in the order of Hankang CHankang B and Okdong A. When it comes to the water pollutant load the value goes up along down the water system meaning the load gets higher in the order of Hankang C, Hankang B and Okdong A while utilizing the mainstream within the mid-level region of Chungju Dam as the basis. The correlation study showed that the nutrient content of soil is proportional to the pollutant load in water with the strongest positive correlation with TOC.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2001

A total of 120 pigs were used to investigate the effects of yucca extracts on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and excretion of growing pigs fed different levels of dietary protein. Pigs were allotted into $2{\times}3$ factorial design by the supplementation with yucca extract (YE, 0 and 120 mg/kg) and 3 levels of dietary protein (16, 18, 20%). During the whole experimental period (18 to 52 kg body weight), there were no significant differences in ADG, ADFI or F/G by YE addition or different protein levels among treatments (p>0.05). Overall, although addition of YE to the diet and elevation of protein level showed better ADG, there were no significant differences in growth performance among treatments. Pigs fed diets with YE showed significantly (p<0.05) higher dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA) and crude protein (CP) digestibility than did the others during the growing period. Concerning the levels of dietary protein, only the CP digestibility was significantly higher in pigs fed high protein diet. Pig fed the low protein diet without YE showed a significantly low CP digestibility (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in crude fat (CF), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) digestibilities regardless of YE supplementation or dietary protein levels. Pigs fed YE supplemented diets showed significantly (p<0.05) higher amino acid digestibility. Also, high CP level diets showed a higher amino acid digestibility than low CP diets (p<0.05). DM and N excretion did not show any significant differences among treatments, there was a slightly lower excretion with increase in dietary protein level. Supplementation with YE significantly decreased the DM and N excretion. Interaction (YE$\times$protein) was found in P excretion. Pigs fed a medium protein diet without YE showed the lowest P excretion during the growing period. The NH3-N content in the feces tended to be increased by the increased dietary protein levels and with YE supplementation. During the whole experimental period, the cost for YE supplementation was similar to value of the improvements of performance obtained. The cost of feeding high level protein was significantly higher than that of medium level protein by 10% and low level protein by 9% (p<0.05). It could be concluded that the effects of dietary protein level and yucca extract on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and excretion might play a role to some extent in growing pigs from the aspect of pollution control.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2013

Decomposition of plant material is an important component in the study of forest ecosystem because of its critical role in nutrient cycling. Different tree species has different nutrient release patterns, which are related to leaf litter quantitative traits and seasonal environmental factors. The quantitative traits of leaf litter are important predictors of decomposition and decomposition rates increase with greater nutrient availability in the forest ecosystems. At the ecosystem level, litter quantitative traits are most often related to the physical and chemical characteristics of the litter, for example, leaf toughness and leaf mass per unit area, and lignin content tannin and total phenolics. Thus, the analysis of litter quantitative traits and decomposition are highly important for the understanding of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. By studying the role of litter quantitative traits on decomposition and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems will provide a valuable insight to how quantitative traits influence ecosystem nutrient dynamics. Such knowledge will contribute to future forest management and conservation practices.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 1990

The objective of this study was to develop automatic systems of nutrient solution management for optimal nutrient solution environment and labor saving in water culture which enables factory crop production. In this study, an automatic control system and its driving program are developed to prepare, supply, and recover nutrient solution and to keep the optimal solution concentration level using microcomputers. Based on this study, the following conclusions are obtained: 1. The concentration measured by the system using oscillating circuit designed and built in this study, gave good agreements with the actual nutrient solution. 2. In water culture, the period of 12 hours for measuring concentration, pH, and temperature of the nutrient solution was optimum. Addition of control solution due to the decrease of the nutrient solution concentration is required in every 3 to 5 days. 3. It is estimated that the period of the whole solution change is 15 days, however, further research is needed to assure it. In addition, this period must be shortened in the future. 4. Both the hardware and software of the developed optimal nutrient solution control system in the water culture are working very well, however, it is necessary to develop a more economical one-chip micro controller to substitute for the microcomputer.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2009

Organic materials reveal the remarkable absorption and high buffer capacity for nutrient. Hence, organic materials need some different nutrient management skill from inorganic one. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of EC level of nutrient solution on the yield and quality of cut rose grown in the mixed substrate of coir and perlite. 3 EC levels of nutrient solution was treated, which were 0.7, 1.0, 1.3 times of standard solution (Aichiken solution, Japan) for cut rose hydroponics. EC of the standard solution was changed by season following as 1.4 (Apr.~June), 1.0 (July~Aug.), 1.4 (Sep.~Oct.), and $1.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ (Nov.~Mar.) subsequently. The supply of nutrient solution was controlled by the signal of water potential at -5kPa using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor. As the results, marketable yield was similar for all treatments until 3rd harvest, but was decreased in high EC level from 4th harvest to 7th harvest as final. 0.7 times of standard solution decreased the ratio of unmarketable rose having short stem below 70cm and increased the ratio of high quality rose having long stem above 91cm. The flower weight and stem diameter of cut rose was higher in the low EC treatment than the others.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.523-532
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• 2004

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of microbial phytase ($Natuphos^{R}$) supplementation in combination with enzyme complex (composed of enzymes targeted to SBM dietary components such as $\alpha$-galactosides and galactomannans; $Endo-Power^{R}$) to diet with low nutrient levels on growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs. A total of 210 crossbred weaned pigs (Landrace$\times$Yorkshire$\times$Duroc), 6.68$\pm$0.98 kg of initial body weight, were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments, based on weight and age, according to a randomized complete block design. There were three pens per treatment and 14 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments were 1) CON (Control diet with no phytase and enzyme complex (EC)), 2) LP+EC 100 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower available phosphorus (aP) level+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% enzyme complex), 3) LP+EC 80 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP level+0.08% phytase (400 FTU/kg diet) and 0.08% enzyme complex, 4) LPEA+EC 100 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP and 3% lower ME and amino acid levels (lysine, methionine, threonine and typtophan)+0.1% phytase (500 FTU/kg diet) and 0.1% enzyme complex), 5) LPEA+EC 80 (Control diet with 0.15% unit lower aP and 3% lower ME and amino acid levels+0.08% phytase (400 FTU/ kg diet) and 0.08% enzyme complex). For the determination of ileal nutrients digestibility, a total of 15 T-cannulated pigs (initial body weight; 7.52$\pm$1.24 kg; 3 replicates per treatment) were used in the present study. Piglets were weighted and allotted into same dietary treatments as one in growth trial and phase I experimental diets were provided for ileal digestibility study. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) among dietary treatments during the whole experimental period (0 to 5 weeks). However, piglets in LP+EC 100 group had a significantly higher gain/feed ratio (G:F) than piglets had in control (p<0.05). Crude protein, energy and phosphorus digestibilities were significantly improved when both of phytase and enzyme complex were supplemented at the revel of 0.1%, respectively to diets with low nutrient level (aP or (and) ME and amino acids) (p<0.05). Piglets in LP+EC 100 and LPEA+EC 100 groups showed significantly higher phosphorus content (%) in bone than that of piglets in control group (p<0.05). Supplementation of both of phytase and enzyme complex at 0.1%, respectively, to diet with low nutrient levels (aP or (and) ME and amino acids) significantly improved total ileal essential amino acid and nonessential amino acid digestibilities compared to control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results from the present study suggest that the simultaneous inclusion of phytase and enzyme complex to diets at recommended level is advantageous with respect to improving growth performance and nutrient digestibility of weaned pigs and may contribute to increased economic return when added to corn-soy based weaned pig diets.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.542-555
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• 1998

This study was conducted to assess the nutrient intake patterns among urban and rural adolescents and to investigate the effects due to parent's socioeconomic status and other factors, such as mother's job, family type and regular exercise on that pattern. 2,455 middle and high school students living in Seoul and Yangpong, Kyounffi-Do participated in a self-administered questionnaire that was used to collect data. The one-day dietary intake was surveyed through a 24-hour recall method. The factors significantly different between urban and rural adolescents according to monthly income, parent's education level, mother's job, family type and exercise. Income, the parents' education level and regular exercise were associated with the patterns of nutrient intakes as a percent of the RDA. So, when adjusted for parental income, the father's and mother's education level and regular exercise, there were no signifcant differences within the patterns of nutritional intake between urban and rural adolescents. The results provided the information regarding the determinants of nutrient status among adolescents and were expected to be helpful for planning school health promotion programs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.210-222
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• 2004

In recent years, the number and proportion of Korean elderly have grown rapidly, and elderly individuals show a disproportionate risk for poor nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of sociodemographic background to nutrient intake of persons 65 years of age or older, living in 15 cities in Korea. Data on 1973 subjects (603 males, 1370 females), who participated in the Korean Elderly Nutrition Survey (2000), were analyzed. Their mean age was 72.3 years and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.2 kg/$m^2$. Basic sociodemographic data were obtained through personal interviews. The 98-item semi-food frequency questionnaire, developed and previously validated for Korean middle-aged and elderly subjects, was administered. “Percentage of subjects who consumed under 75％ Korean RDA,” “number of nutrients consumed below 75％ Korean RDA,” “mean nutrient adequacy ratio,” and “nutrient density” were used to determine nutritional status. Male elderly had better nutritional quality than female elderly. Nutritional quality decreased with age, especially in older elderly (over 75). Elderly who were underweight (BMI 〈 20 kg/$m^2$) showed poorer nutritional quality than those who were normal weight (BMI 20∼25 kg/$m^2$) and overweight (BMI $\geq$ 25 kg/$m^2$). Elderly who lived alone had significantly poorer nutritional quality than those who lived with a spouse, and/or with children. Lower education level and economic dependence also showed lower nutritional quality. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of specific sociodemographic factors on nutritional quality. For number of nutrients under 75％ RDA as a dependent variable, education level explained 4.8％ of the variance, followed by living status, age, body mass index, gender, and living expense support (Model $R^2$ = 0.091). For mean nutrient adequacy ratio as a dependent variable, model $R^2$ was 0.098. Therefore, sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, body mass index, living status, educational level, and economic status influenced elderly nutrition status. These results indicate that an elderly nutrition intervention should focus on subjects who are poorly educated, living alone, age 75 or older, and/or underweight.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 2010

An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of dietary inorganic (copper sulfate) and organic (copper proteinate) forms of copper and energy level on performance and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens. Two hundred day-old commercial Vencobb broiler chicks were purchased and randomly distributed to 20 cages of 10 birds each. These replicates were randomly assigned to one of five treatments in a (($2{\times}2$)+1) factorial arrangement. These two factors were sources of Cu ($CuSO_{4}$ vs. Cuproteinate) and dose of Cu supplements (200 mg and 400 mg/kg dietary dry matter) and the control (no supplemental Cu). After the starter period (up to 3 weeks), from d 22 onwards another factor i.e. energy at two levels (2,900 vs. 2,920 kcal/kg diet) was introduced with the previous factorial arrangements by subdividing each replicate into two equal parts, for two energy levels, without disturbing the dose and source of Cu supplement. Cu-salt supplementation linearly increased (p<0.01) live weight (LW), live weight gain (LWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 3 weeks, whereas cumulative feed intake (CFI) was unaffected (p>0.05). LWG and FCR were higher (p<0.01) in Cu-proteinate supplemented birds compared to $CuSO_{4}$ supplementation. A linear dose response (p<0.01) of Cu was found for the performance of broiler chickens. Birds having a higher energy level in the finisher stage increased (p<0.01) LWG and FCR. Cumulative feed intake was similar (p>0.05) across the groups up to the 5th week. Cu-proteinate increased performance of broiler chickens compared to $CuSO_{4}$. Dose of supplemental Cu-salt irrespective of source showed a linear response (p<0.01) for performance. Supplementation of Cu-proteinate increased metabolizability of DM (p<0.01), NFE (p<0.05), total carbohydrate (p<0.01) and OM (p<0.01) at the starter period. Increased dose of Cu-salt linearly increased (p<0.01) metabolizability of DM, CP, CF, NFE and OM. Higher energy level in the diet improved DM (p<0.05), EE (p<0.01), NFE (p = 0.01), total carbohydrate (p<0.01) and OM (p<0.01) metabolizability. Cu-proteinate supplementation showed better nutrient utilization compared to CuSO4. Dose of Cu linearly increased DM, CP, EE, NFE, total carbohydrate and OM metabolizability. CF metabolizability was unaffected (p>0.05) among the treatments. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Cu-salt more than the requirement may improve performance and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens even with a high energy finisher diet. Cu-proteinate showed better performance and nutrient utilization compared to $CuSO_{4}$.