• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.284-289
• /
• 2014

Farmers in highlands in South Korea pile up 20 to 30 cm of saprolites, mostly granite- or granite-gneiss-weathered materials, on surface of arable lands every three to five years to compensate eroded soil and sometimes to discontinue soil-borne diseases. Immediate increases of infiltration and percolation rates are expected with coarse textured saprolites while soil drainage becomes poorer in a long-term. In this study, we analyzed mineralogical characteristics and micro-morphology of plow pan to investigate processes making impermeable layers. Soil samples were collected from plow pan, usually located at approximately 20 cm soil depth and at the lower part of piled saprolites, in arable lands in Hoenggye 5-ri, Daekwanryeong-myeon, Gangwon-do (N37.7, E128.7) in which saprolites were added 2, 4, and 8 years ago; saprolites were transported from similar areas. The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased over time. Based on soil thin section pedography, quartz and feldspar accounted for a majority of minerals. The size of feldspar decreased and macropores became filled with clay or silt particles over time, which implies that macropores were packed with particles weathered from feldspar. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that intensity of feldspar decreased over time and the reverse was true for kaolinite and illite, indicating that feldspar and mica weathering induced formation of kaolinite and illite. Conclusively, deteriorated drainage by formation of impermeable layers in farms with piled saprolites was caused by accumulation of clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite in macropores; illite and kaolinite can be formed by weathering of mica and feldspar, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.479-488
• /
• 2014

Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) from disturbance of rocks and soils has been overlooked as a source of exposure that could potentially have a detrimental impact on human health. But, few researches on mineralogical characteristics of NOA occurred in soils have been reported in Korea. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the mineralogical characteristics of NOA occurred in soils at Daero-ri area, Seosan, Chungnam Province, Korea. Sedimentation method was used for particle size separation of the asbestos-containing soils. XRD and PLM analyses were used to characterize mineralogical characteristics and mineral assemblages in soils. SEM-EDS and TEM-EDS analyses were used to characterize mineral morphology and chemical composition. Particle size analyses of the asbestos-containing soils showed they were composed of 26-93% sand, 4-23% silt and 3-70% clay. Soil texture of the soils was mainly sand, sandy loam, sandy clay, and clay. PLM analyses of the soil showed that most of the soil contained asbestiform tremolite and actinolite. The average content of asbestos in the soil was 1.5 wt. %. Therefore, the soil can be classified into asbestos-contaminated soils based on U. S. Environmental Protection Agency classification (content of asbestos in contaminated soil > 1%). Morphologically different types of tremolite such as long fibrous, needle-like, fiber bundle, bladed and prismatic forms co-existed. Prismatic tremolite was dominant in sand fraction and asbestiform tremolite was dominant in silt fraction. This study indicates that the prismatic form of tremolite transform gradually into a fibrous form of tremolite due to soil weathering because tremolite asbestos was mainly existed in silt fraction rather than sand fraction.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2018

The soil parameters important for the design of the soft ground are the compression index ($C_c$), the consolidation settlement and consolidation speed at the field. Compression index is obtained by laboratory consolidation test. In the laboratory consolidation test, sample disturbance always occurs. In order to correct the disturbance phenomena, the method of calculating the compression index proposed by Schmertmann (1955) is generally used. However, recent developments in sampling technology and Korean soil conditions are different from those proposed by Schmertmann. So it needs to be verified. In this study, each consolidation curve's cross void ratio is evaluated by doing consolidation test varying disturbance on high-plastic clay (CH), low-plastic clay (CL) and low-plastic silt (ML). The test results were $0.521e_0$ for low-plastic silt, $0.404e_0$ for low-plastic clay, and $0.458e_0$ for the high-plastic clay. This results were different from those of Schmertmann's suggested value of $0.42e_0$. Therefor we proposed a correction formula using the plastic index according to soil type. However, since the results of this study are limited test results, further studies on various korean soil are needed to suggest the compression index correction method according to the degree of plasticity index of soil.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.14 no.4 s.41
• /
• pp.487-498
• /
• 2004

There is an increasing trend of construction works in mountainous areas by the urban development in Busan that is mainly composed of mountains. The study area, Hwangryeong Mt., is one of developing sites in the urban area, too. Landslides and cut-slope failures that occur large damages of human beings and the properties are influenced by soil characteristics as well as rock properties. This study analyzed geotechnical characteristics of soil dependent on geology at Hwangryeong Mt. where a large slope failure had been occurred in 1999. Geology of the study area is composed of the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks and volcanic rocks. Soil layer of the slopes can be grouped into sand mixed with clay and silt. The cohesion is plotted between $0.001\;and\;0.066kg/cm^2$. The friction angles are distributed in the ranges between $32^{\circ}\;and\;39^{\circ}$, meaning soil bearing a high friction angle. The permeability coefficients are plotted between $2.34\times10^{-4}cm/sec\;and\;2.58\times10^{-2}cm/sec$, indicating fine sand and loose silt with a medium grade of permeability. The sedimentary rocks area shows relatively higher permeability coefficients than those volcanic rocks area.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.33-39
• /
• 2011

An optical sensing approach based on diffuse reflectance has shown potential for rapid and reliable on-site estimation of soil properties. Important sensing ranges and the resulting regression models useful for soil property estimation have been reported. In this study, a similar approach was applied to investigate the potential of reflectance sensing in estimating soil properties for Korean paddy fields. Soil cores up to a 65-cm depth were collected from 42 paddy fields representing 14 distinct soil series that account for 74% of the total Korean paddy field area. These were analyzed in the laboratory for several important physical and chemical properties. Using air-dried, sieved soil samples, reflectance data were obtained from 350 to 2500 nm on a 3 nm sampling interval with a laboratory spectrometer. Calibrations were developed using partial least squares (PLS) regression, and wavelength bands important for estimating the measured soil properties were identified. PLS regression provided good estimations of Mg ($R^2$ = 0.80), Ca ($R^2$ = 0.77), and total C ($R^2$ = 0.92); fair estimations of pH, EC, $P_2O_5$, K, Na, sand, silt, and clay ($R^2$ = 0.59 to 0.72); and poor estimation of total N. Many wavelengths selected for estimation of the soil properties were identical or similar for multiple soil properties. More important wavelengths were selected in the visible-short NIR range (350-1000 nm) and the long NIR range (1800-2500 nm) than in the intermediate NIR range (1000-1800 nm). These results will be useful for design and application of in-situ close range sensors for paddy field soil properties.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.350-359
• /
• 2012

The Korean terms of sediment grain size demonstrated in the 30 textbooks of elementary, middle, and high schools and university levels are compared and reviewed, and the problems of its use and alternative terms are proposed. The Korean terms of sediment grain size shown in the most textbooks are the translated terms of the Udden-Wentworth grade scale, and the different terms have been used in these textbooks. In the case of gravels, granule, cobble, and boulder have commonly been translated as wangmorae (king sand), janjagal (fine gravel), wangjagal (king gravel), and pyoryeog (drift gravel) or georyeog (large gravel), respectively. However, it is regarded to be reasonable that they are termed as janjagal, jungjagal (medium gravel), keunjagal (large gravel), and wangjagal, respectively. Adjectives such as 'maeu goun' (very fine), 'goun' (fine), 'junggan' (medium), 'gulgeun' (coarse), and 'maeu gulgeun' (very coarse), attached with each sediment name seem to be suitable to terms for sediments smaller than gravels. Silt has been commonly termed as misa (fine sand) in many textbooks, but it may be appropriate that silt is expressed as silt. Finally, mud, which is a mixture of silt and clay, should be named ito (mud) as shown in several textbooks including Dictionary of Korean Earth Science, though mud has been frequently termed as jinheug (slush or watery soil) in the most of textbooks for elementary and middle school students, and some high school and university textbooks.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.195-202
• /
• 1995

This experiment was performed to characterize the optimum water table level for the growth and yield of barley(var. Olbori) and wheat(var, Grumil), Olbori and Grumil were grown in the 550 liter plastic pot filled with silt loam or sandy loam, During the whole growth period, the water table adjusted to be 20, 30, 40, 50, and 70cm, Higher water table was resulted in the decrease in plant height and top dry weight, but in the increase of the ratio of top to root dry weight, especially in barley, This suggested that high water table level affected more the growth of top than that of root, The number and area of green leaves were decreased as the water table was higher than 30 to 40cm at the late growth period(May 18, 1993), The largest number and area of green leaves were shown at 50cm of water table in sandy loam and at 70cm in silt loam, As the water table was high, the leaf chlorophyll content was low, And barley was affected more significantly than wheat by soil texture, The photosynthetic activity was decreased remarkably at 20cm water table, Heading period was 2 to 3 and 4 days earlier at the 20cm water table of sandy loam in barley and wheat, respectively, However this earlier heading was not shown in silt loam, Grain filling was accelerated 5 to 7 days earlier in barley and 10 days in wheat grown at 20cm water table, The highest yield was present at 50 and 70cm water table, The yield was decreased remarkably at 20cm water table, resulting that yield reduction ratio of barley was 71.1% and 72, 2%, and that of wheat was 41.0% and 60, 0% in sandy loam and silt loam, respectively, High water table decreased the number of spike per unit area, but increased the seed weight per spike in barley, However, High water table reduced the seed weight per spike in wheat. There was significant correlation between yield and leaf chlorophyll content in wheat and barley, Yield was correlated significantly with green leaf area in barley, and with top dry weight, ratio of top to root dry weight chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity in wheat. The optimum water table was 50 to 70cm in wheat and barley, They grew fairly well at 30cm water table of sandy loam, and at 40cm of silt loam.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.278-284
• /
• 1995

This experiment was performed to characterize the optimum water table level for the grain quality, seed germination and diastic power of barley(var. Olbori) and wheat(var. Grumil). Olbori and Grumil grew in the 550 liter plastic pot that filled with silt loam or sandy loam. During the whole growth period, the underground water level adjusted to be 20, 30, 40, 50 and 70cm. Filled grain ratio and specific gravity were not affected by soil texture and water table. Low level of water table caused the increase of 1,000 grain weight in wheat and barley, but soil texture didn't. Crude protein content tended to be high as the water table level was high, especially in wheat. Change in crude protein content was affected by underground water level more than soil texture. And the affection was slightly higher in sandy loam than silt loam, but the difference was small. The higher level of water table led to the lower crude lipid content in barley and wheat grain. Crude lipid content of both wheat and barley grain grown in sandy loam was higher than those grown in silt loam. As the water table level down, the ash content of barley and wheat grain tend to increase, especially in sandy loam. Wheat flour yield was not affected by soil texture. It was about 65% at 20cm of water level and above 67% at 40cm water level. The seed germination of wheat and barley was more than 95% when the seeds were placed at 2$0^{\circ}C$ for three days. Regardless of soil texture, the lowest germination was seen at 20cm of water table level. And the seed germination rate increased as the underground water level became low. Above 89% of barley grains were germinated within 48 hours except 20cm level of water table in sandy loam. Diastic power of germinated barley was the lowest at 20cm of water table level, and it was almost unchanged below 30cm of water table level. And also it was not affected by soil texture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.58 no.5
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 2016

Due to droughts and water shortages causing severe damage to crops and other vegetations, much attention has been given to efficient irrigation for upland farming. However, little information has been known to measure soil moisture levels in a field scale and apply their spatial variability for proper irrigation scheduling. This study aimed to characterize the spatial variability and temporal stability of soil water contents at depths of 10 cm, 20 cm and 30 cm on flat (loamy soil) and hill-slope fields (silt-loamy soil). Field monitoring of soil moisture contents was used for variogram analysis using GS+ software. Kriging produced from the structural parameters of variogram was applied for the means of spatial prediction. The overall results showed that the surface soil moisture presented a strong spatial dependence at the sampling time and space in the field scale. The coefficient variation (CV) of soil moisture was within 7.0~31.3 % in a flat field and 8.3~39.4 % in a hill-slope field, which was noticeable in the dry season rather than the rainy season. The drought assessment analysis showed that only one day (Dec. 21st) was determined as dry (20.4 % and 24.5 % for flat and hill-slope fields, respectively). In contrary to a hill-slope field where the full irrigation was necessary, the centralized irrigation scheme was appeared to be more effective for a flat field based on the spatial variability of soil moisture contents. The findings of this study clearly showed that the geostatistical analysis of soil moisture contents greatly contributes to proper irrigation scheduling for water-efficient irrigation with maximal crop productivity and environmental benefits.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 1982

This experiment was conducted to see the effect of repeated application of IBP granular formulation(17%, 0,0-diisopropyl-S-benzyl thiophosphate) on the biodegradation of IBP and diazinon〔0,0-diethyl 0-(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate〕 in silt loam soil with 2.1% organic matter under flooded condition. The persistence of IBP in the soil was shortened by increasing the frequencies of application of the chemical. Enhanced degradation ability in the soil caused by repeated application of IBP was prolonged about 53 days, while the ability did not influence diazinon persistence in the soil. The half-lives of IBP in sterilized soil autoclaved at $121^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes were about 3 times longer than those in viable soil, suggesting that microbial process was a major factor for IBP degradation in the soil. The total colony number of soil microbes showed little difference between the soils with and without repeated application of IBP. A possible concern of specific soil microorganisms on the pesticide degradation in soil was discussed.