• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1069-1074
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• 2009

This study investigated soil microbial community and growth of Zea mays to compare the toxicity of nano and micro-sized Cu and Zn oxide particles in microcosm system. In the presence of nanoparticles, biomass of Zea mays reduced by 30% compared with micro-sized particles and inhibited growth. Dehydrogenase activity was inhibited by CuO nano although it was increased by ZnO nano particles. According to the Biolog test, the microbial diversity was decreased after exposed to CuO nanoparticles and ZnO microparticles. Therefore, though it is widely recognized that nanoparticles are more harmful than microparticles, we can conclude that the diversity of microbial community does not always influenced by the size of particles of nano and micro.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.792-797
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• 2012

Glomalin-related soil protein has been suggested as an enhancer for soil stability by promoting the aggregation. In this study, we examined the concentrations of glomalin and characteristics of microbial community in 20 paddy soils sampled from Gyeongnam Province. Total soil glomalin as glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) had a significant positive correlation with soil organic matter (p<0.01) and soil dehydrogenase activity (p<0.01). The concentration of GRSP significantly correlated to soil microbial biomass carbon (p<0.001) and the total bacterial community (p<0.01) in paddy soils. In addition, the GRSP had a significant positive correlation with gram-negative bacteria community (p<0.05) and ratio of cy19:0 to 18:$1{\omega}7c$ (p<0.05) in paddy soils. In conclusion, the concentration of GRSP could be an indicator of soil health that simplify the inspection steps for sustainable agriculture in paddy soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.146-159
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• 2011

The continuous increase in the production of metals and their subsequent release into the environment has lead to increased concentration of these elements in agricultural soils. Because microbes are involved in almost every chemical transformations taking place in the soil, considerable attention has been given to assessing their responses to metal contaminants. Short-term and long-term exposures to toxic metals have been shown to reduce microbial diversity, biomass and activities in the soil. Several studies show that microbial parameters like basal respiration, metabolic quotient, and enzymatic activities, including those of oxidoreductases and those involved in the cycle of C, N, P and other elements, exhibit sensitivity to soil metal concentrations. These have been therefore, regarded as good indices for assessing the impact of metal contaminants to the soil. Metal contamination has also been extensively shown to decrease species diversity and cause shifts in microbial community structure. Biochemical and molecular techniques that are currently being employed to detect these changes are continuously challenged by several limiting factors, although showing some degree of sensitivity and efficiency. Variations and inconsistencies in the responses of bioindicators to metal stress in the soil can also be explained by differences in bioavailability of the metal to the microorganisms. This, in turn, is influenced by soil characteristics such as CEC, pH, soil particles and other factors. Therefore, aside from selecting the appropriate techniques to better understand microbial responses to metals, it is also important to understand the prevalent environmental conditions that interplay to bring about observed changes in any given soil parameter.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1158-1163
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• 2011

The present study was aimed to evaluate the soil microbial communities by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) method in paddy soils at 20 sites in Gyeongnam Province. The soil microbial biomass carbon content of fan and valley $1,266mg\;kg^{-1}$ was higher than alluvial plain $578mg\;kg^{-1}$ (p<0.05). In addition, The dehydrogenase activity of fan and valley $204{\mu}g\;TPF\;g^{-1}\;24h^{-1}$ was higher than alluvial plain $93{\mu}g\;TPF\;g^{-1}\;24h^{-1}$ (p<0.05). The communities of total bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria in the fan and valley paddy soils were significantly higher than those in the alluvial plain paddy soils (p<0.05). Total bacteria communities should be considered as a potential responsible factor for the obvious microbial community differentiation that was observed between the fan and valley and alluvial plain in paddy soils.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2009

Soil microbial activity and diversity are affected by organic sources applied to improve soil quality and fluctuate seasonally. We investigated the effects of municipal compost (MC), poultry litter (PL), and cover crops of spring oats and red clover (RC) on soil enzyme activities, and soil bacterial community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) in a Mexico silt loam in North Central Missouri, USA. Temporal patterns of these parameters were observed by periodic five soil sampling from spring to fall over a two year period. MC increased soil dehydrogenase (DH) activity consistently beginning about three months after MC application; fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity significantly began to increase by the September of the first year but fluctuated during the following period. DH activity responded more directly to the amount or properties of organic residues in soils while FDA hydrolysis and CLPP were generally influenced by composition of organic sources, and enzyme activities and CLPP showed seasonal variation, which depended on organic sources and soil moisture. MC and cover crops may be useful organic sources for enhancing general soil microbial activity and altering soil microbial diversity, respectively. Because microbial activities and diversity are dynamic and subject to seasonal changes, the effects of organic amendments on these parameters should be investigated frequently during a growing season.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.37-45
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• 2007

Phytoremediation has been used effectively for the biodegradation of oil-based contaminants, including diesel, by the stimulation of soil microbes near plant roots (rhizosphere). However, the technique has rarely been assessed for itsinfluence on soil microbial properties such as population, community structure, and diversity. In this study, the removal efficiency and characteristics of rhizobacteria for phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils were assessed using barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli). The concentration of spiked diesel for treatments was around $6000\;mg\;kg^{-1}$. Diesel removal efficiencies reached 100% in rhizosphere soils, 76% in planted bulk soils, and 62% in unplanted bulk soils after 3weeks stabilization and 2 months growth(control, no microbial activity: 32%). The highest populations of culturable soil bacteria ($5.89{\times}10^8$ per g soil) and culturable hydrocarbon-degraders($5.65{\times}10^6$ per g soil) were found in diesel-contaminated rhizosphere soil, also yielding the highest microbial dehydrogenase. This suggests that the populations of soil bacteria, including hydrocarbon-degraders, were significantly increased by a synergistic rhizosphere + diesel effect. The diesel treatment alone resulted in negative population growth. In addition, we investigated the bacterial community structures of each soil sample based on DGGE (Denaturing Gel Gradient Electrophoresis) band patterns. Bacterial community structure was most influenced by the presence of diesel contamination (76.92% dissimilarity to the control) and by a diesel + rhizosphere treatment (65.62% dissimilarity), and least influenced by the rhizosphere treatment alone (48.15% dissimilarity). Based on the number of distinct DGGE bands, the bacterial diversity decreased with diesel treatment, but kept constant in the rhizosphere treatment. The rhizosphere thus positively influenced bacterial population density in diesel-contaminated soil, resulting in high removal efficiency of diesel.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.31-43
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of organic farmland soil and nutrient management on soil properties depending on organic (animal manure compost and green manure [hairy vetch]) and chemical fertilization, tillage and no-tillage, and crop rotation (corn-wheat, corn-.hairy vetch). It was found that the application of organic matter such as animal manure compost and hairy vetch, increased the soil organic matter content, the soil microbial density and microbial biomass C content as compared with the chemical fertilizer treatment. It was also confirmed that the functional diversity of soil microbial community was increased. As a result of the comparison with the crop rotation and single cropping, the soil chemistry showed no significant difference between the treatments, but the corn-wheat and corn-hairy vetch rotation treatments tended to have higher microbial biomass C content and shannon's diversity index than the single cropping. Soil chemical properties of tillage and no-tillage treatments showed no significant difference between treatments. There was no statistically significant difference in substrate utilization of soil microbial community between tillage and no-tillage treatment. Correlation analysis between soil chemical properties and soil microbial activity revealed that soil organic matter content and exchangeable potassium content were positively correlated, with statistical significance, with substrate utilization, and substrate richness. To conclude, organic fertilization had positive effects on the short-term improvement of soil chemical properties and diversity of microbial communities.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2008

Fire can affect microbial community structure of soil through altered environmental conditions, nutrient availability, and biotic source for microbial re-colonization. We examined the influence of fire on chemical properties and soil enzyme activities of soil for 10 months. We also characterized the soil microbial community structure through ester-linked fatty acid analysis(EL-FAME). For this study, we established five burned plots(1*1 m) and 5 unburned plots outside the margin of fire. Soil was sampled three soil cores in a each plots and composited for analysis at 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 month after fire. The fire caused an increase in soil pH, exchangeable Ca, and Mg, organic matter, available $P_2O_5$ compared to unburned sites. The content of $NH_4-N$ in burned site was significantly higher than that of unburned site and this effect continued for 8 months after fire. There was no difference of $NO_3-N$ content in soil between burned and unburned site. Fire caused no change in acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase activities but $\beta$-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase activities in burned site were increased compared to unburned site. Microbial biomass as estimated by total concentration of EL-FAMEs in burned sites was significantly higher than that of unburned sites at one month after fire. Burned site decreased the EL-FAMEs indicative of gram-positive bacteria and tended to increase the fatty acid associated with gram-negative bacteria at one and three months after fire. The sum of EL-FAME compound $18:2{\omega}6,9c$ and $18:1{\omega}9c$ as served fungal biomarkers was decreased in burned site compared to unburned site.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.16-23
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• 2020

In this work, ²²²Rn activity, major dissolved ions, and microbial community in ground- and surface waters were investigated to characterize groundwater inflow to the stream located in an urban area, Daejeon, Korea. The measured ²²²Rn activities in groundwater and stream water ranged from 136 to 231 Bq L^-1 and 0.3 to 48.8 Bq L^-1, respectively. The spatial distributions of ²²²Rn activity in the stream strongly suggested groundwater inflow to the stream. The change of geochemical composition of the stream water indicated the effect of groundwater discharge became more pronounced as the stream flows downstream. Furthermore, microbial community composition of the stream water had good similarity to that of groundwater, which is another evidence of groundwater discharge. Although groundwater inflow could not be estimated quantitatively in this study, the results can provide useful information to understand interactions between groundwater and surface water, and determine hydrological processes governing groundwater recharge and hydrogeological cycles of dissolved substances such as nutrients and trace metals.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2009

This study was performed to evaluate effect of different fertilization management practices on soil microbial activities and community structure using soil enzyme activities and PLFA contents in volcanic ash citrus orchard soil. Six experiment plots have differently managed based on the recommended application rate(NPK) of chemical fertilizer and compost for 13 years. Experiment plots were composed of no-fertilization(control), compost only, half amount of NPK with compost (1/2NPK+COM), NPK, NPK with compost(NPK+COM), and 3 times amount of NPK(3NPK). Soil samples collected in early March, May, July, and September 2007. Urease activity was high at NPK+COM in March, May, and September. It was higher in NPK+COM than in NPK. Urease activity decreased according to the order NPK>compost>control in March and May; compost>NPK>control in July and September. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in 1/2NPK+COM($4.3ug\;TPF\;g^{-1}\;24h^{-1}$) than in control($2.4ug\;TPF\;g^{-1}\;24h^{-1}$), May. $\beta$-glucosidase activity was significantly higher in NPK and 1/2NPK+COM than in control, May. In March, Total PLFA contents were higher in NPK+COM($349.2n\;mol\;g^{-1}$) than in 3NPK($228.5n\;mol\;g^{-1}$). And that were higher in 1/2NPK+COM($237.8n\;mol\;g^{-1}$) than in 3NPK($133.1n\;mol\;g^{-1}$), May. Distribution ratio of soil microbial groups by PLFA biomaker were not significantly difference in between seasonal and treatments. Principal component analysis by PLFA profiles showed that microbial community in compost and 3NPK plot were different compared with other treatments in March. But Differences in compost and 3NPK plot were not found in May. Our result showed that the change of microbial community structure affected by fertilization effect and seasonable variation.