• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.749-758
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• 2004

Nitrous oxide ($N_2$O) has been known as an important trace gas due to the greenhouse gas and the major source of stratospheric oxide of nitrogen (NO). Soil is the major source of $N_2$O in nature. The physicochemical characteristics of soils affect the emission of $N_2$O from soil. These physicochemical parameters are soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil N content. Since these parameters are correlated to the flux of $N_2$O from soil individually and compositely, there still remain many unknowns in the mechanism to produce $N_2$O in soil and the roles of such physicochemical parameters which affect the soil $N_2$O emission. Soil $N_2$O fluxes were measured at different levels in water filled pore space (WFPS), soil temperature and soil N contents from the same amounts of soils which were sampled from agriculturally managed upland field in a depth of ～30 cm at Kunsan. The soil $N_2$O flux measurements were conducted in a laboratory with a closed flux chamber system. The optimum soil moisture and soil temperature were observed at 60% of WFPS and ～13$^{\circ}C$. The soil $N_2$O flux increased as soil N contents increases during the whole experimental hours (up to 48 hours). However, average $N_2$O flux decreased after ～30 hours when organic carbon was mixed with nitrogen in the sample soils. It is suggested that organic carbon could be important for the emission of $N_2$O, and that the ratio of N to C needs to be identified in the process of $N_2$O soil emission.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.1517-1526
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• 2018

Investigating bacterial diversity and its metabolic capabilities is crucial for interpreting the ecological patterns in a desert environment and assessing the presence of exploitable microbial resources. In this study, we evaluated the spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical parameters, soil bacterial diversity and metabolic adaptation at meter scale. Soil samples were collected from two quadrats of a desert (Thar Desert, India) with a hot, arid climate, very little rainfall and extreme temperatures. Analysis of physico-chemical parameters and subsequent variance analysis (p-values < 0.05) revealed that sulfate, potassium and magnesium ions were the most variable between the quadrats. Microbial diversity of the two quadrats was studied using Illumina bar-coded sequencing by targeting V3-V4 regions of 16S rDNA. As for the results, 702504 high-quality sequence reads, assigned to 173 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at species level, were examined. The most abundant phyla in both quadrats were Actinobacteria (38.72%), Proteobacteria (32.94%), and Acidobacteria (9.24%). At genus level, Gaiella represented highest prevalence, followed by Streptomyces, Solirubrobacter, Aciditerrimonas, Geminicoccus, Geodermatophilus, Microvirga, and Rubrobacter. Between the quadrats, significant difference (p-values < 0.05) was found in the abundance of Aciditerrimonas, Geodermatophilus, Geminicoccus, Ilumatobacter, Marmoricola, Nakamurella, and Solirubrobacter. Metabolic functional mapping revealed diverse biological activities, and was significantly correlated with physicochemical parameters. The results revealed spatial variation of ions, microbial abundance and functional attributes in the studied quadrats, and patchy nature in local scale. Interestingly, abundance of the biotechnologically important phylum Actinobacteria, with large proposition of unclassified species in the desert, suggested that this arid environment is a promising site for bioprospection.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.173-181
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• 2013

Livestock wastes are considered as major environmental pollutants because they contain high concentration of organic materials. In 2001, The Environmental Department reported that stock farmers were increasing as 5.1%/year, which resulted in a gradual increase in livestock wastes generation. The direct disposal of livestock wastes create several environmental problems. Thus, several countries banned the disposal of livestock wastes in environment including aquatic systems. Recently, aeration-based liquid fertilization was considered as potential way for the disposal of livestock wastes. In this study, next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis was used to understand the microbial community changes during liquid fertilization of livestock wastes. Microbial community was compared with liquid fertilizer physicochemical analysis such as $BOD_5$, $COD_{Mn}$ pH, N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorus), K (Potassium) etc. The physicochemical parameters and bacterial community results pave the way for producing effective livestock-based fertilizer. By comparing the physical characteristics of the manure with microbial community changes, it is possible to optimize the conditions for producing effective fertilizer.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2022

Background: Plant vegetation appears in heterogeneous and patchy forms in arid and semi-arid regions. In these regions, underneath the plant patches and the empty spaces between them are covered by biological soil crusts (moss, lichen, cyanobacteria, and fungi). Biological soil crusts lead to the formation and development of fertile islands in between vegetation patches via nitrogen and carbon fixation and the permeation of runoff water and nutrients in the soil. Results: The present study has investigated the association of biological soil crusts, the development of fertile islands, and the formation of plant patches in part of the Takht-e Soltan protected area, located in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. Three sites were randomly selected as the working units and differentiated based on their geomorphological characteristics to the alluvial fan, hillslope, and fluvial terrace landforms. Two-step systematic random sampling was conducted along a 100-meter transect using a 5 m² plot at a 0-5 cm depth in three repetitions. Fifteen samplings were carried out at each site with a total of 45 samples taken. The results showed that the difference in altitude has a significant relationship with species diversity and decreases with decreasing altitude. Results have revealed that the moisture content of the site, with biocrust has had a considerable increase compared to the other sites, helping to form vegetation patterns and fertile islands. Conclusions: The findings indicated that biological crusts had impacted the allocation of soil parameters. They affect the formation of plant patches by increasing the soil's organic carbon, nitrogen, moisture and nutrient content provide a suitable space for plant growth by increasing the soil fertility in the inter-patch space.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.313-325
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• 2011

From October 2009 to June 2010, major greenhouse gases (GHG: $N_2O$, $CH_4$, $CO_2$) soil emission were measured from upland cabbage field at Kunsan ($35^{\circ}$56'23"N, $126^{\circ}$43'14"E), Korea by using closed static chamber method. The measurements were conducted mostly from 10:00 to 18:00LST during field experiment days (total 28 days). After analyzing GHG concentrations inside of flux chamber by using a GC equipped with a methanizer (Varian CP3800), the GHG fluxes were calculated from a linear regression of the changes in the concentrations with time. Soil parameters (e.g. soil moisture, temperature, pH, organic C, soil N) were also measured at the sampling site. The average soil pH and soil moisture were ~pH $5.42{\pm}0.03$ and $70.0{\pm}1.8$ %WFPS (water filled pore space), respectively. The ranges of GHG flux during the experimental period were $0.08\sim8.40\;mg/m^2{\cdot}hr$ for $N_2O$, $-92.96\sim139.38mg/m^2{\cdot}hr$ for $CO_2$, and $-0.09\sim0.05mg/m^2{\cdot}hr$ for $CH_4$, respectively. It revealed that monthly means of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ flux during October (fall) were positive and significantly higher than those (negative value) during January (winter) when subsoil have low temperature and relatively high moisture due to snow during the winter measurement period. Soil mean temperature and moisture during these months were $17.5{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$, $45.7{\pm}8.2$%WFPS for October; and $1.4{\pm}1.3^{\circ}C$, $89.9{\pm}8.8$ %WFPS for January. It may indicate that soil temperature and moisture have significant role in determining whether the $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ emission or uptake take place. Low temperature and high moisture above a certain optimum level during winter could weaken microbial activity and the gas diffusion in soil matrix, and then make soil GHG emission to the atmosphere decrease. Other soil parameters were also discussed with respect to GHG emissions. Both positive and negative gas fluxes in $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ were observed during these measurements, but not for $N_2O$. It is likely that $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ gases emanated from soil surface or up taken by the soil depending on other factors such as background concentrations and physicochemical soil conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.354-357
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• 2004

The addition of oxygenates to diesel fuel can significantly reduce particulate emissions. Dibutyl maleate (DBM) and tripropylene glycol methyl ether (TGME) have been identified as possible additives based on their physicochemical characteristics and performance in engine test. However, their potential environmental impacts are unknown. therefore, practical considerations in the selection of an oxygenate additives should include cost, availability, compatibility with engines and fuel, and, particularly, its overall environmental impact. This study was investigated to determine optimal condition for the analysis of potential diesel oxygenates using SPME technique with GC-FID. Four fibers were compared and CAR/PDMS fiber was found to be the most sensitive when used direct-sampling. An absorption time of 30min and a desorption time of 5min provided to be the most sensitivity. The effects of experimental parameters such as the addition of salts, agitation, absorption time, compositon on the analysis were investigated. Analytical parameter such as linearity was also evaluated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2022

We investigated the early growth characteristics of Quercus rubra planted in six regions (Hwaseong, Yangpyeong, Pyeongchang, Samcheok, Chungju, and Gimje) in South Korea in relation to soil physicochemical properties and meteorological factors. Q. rubra (1-0) were planted at a density of 3,000 trees ha^-1. The average height, root collar diameter (RCD), and volume of 8-year-old Q. rubra planted in 2014 were 3.52 m, 3.84 cm, and 0.0023 m³, respectively. The growth parameters of Q. rubra were the highest and lowest in Hwaseong and Pyeongchang, respectively. Correlation analysis among the soil physicochemical properties, meteorological factors, and plantation growth characteristics found that pH was the only soil factor negatively correlated with RCD, and the other soil factors were not significantly correlated with the growth characteristics. However, growth characteristics were positively correlated to average temperature from March to October and daily maximum temperature; and they were negatively correlated to altitude, topology, and the number of rainy days from March to October. In particular, the trees planted in Hwaseong area showed the best early growth characteristics because this area had the highest daily maximum temperature, the x average temperature from March to October, the low altitude, and it is located close to the foot of a mountain. In Pyeongchang, the early growth characteristics were negatively affected by winter cold damage because of the high altitude, low daily minimum temperature, and damage by wild animals. In Hwaseong, meteorological factors such as temperature and altitude were more highly correlated to growth characteristics of Q. rubra than the physicochemical soil properties. These results will provide useful information for determining suitable sites for Q. rubra plantations and for predicting early growth characteristics in response to environmental factors.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.47-57
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• 2022

A number of different methods have been used for modeling the sorption of volatile organic chlorinated compounds such as tetrachloroethylene/perchloroethylene (PCE). In this study, PCE was adsorbed in several natural sorbents, i.e., Pahokee peat, vermicompost, BionSoil^®, and natural soil, in the batch experiments. Several sorption models such as linear, Freundlich, solubility-normalized Freundlich model, and Polanyi-Manes model (PMM) were used to analyze sorption isotherms. The relationship between sorption model parameters, organic carbon content (f_oc), and elemental C/N ratio was studied. The organic carbon normalized partition coefficient values (log K_oc = 1.50-3.13) in four different sorbents were less than the logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log K_ow = 3.40) of PCE due to high organic carbon contents. The log K_oc decreased linearly with log f_oc and log C/N ratio, but increased linearly with log O/C, log H/C, and log (N+O)/C ratio. Both log K_F,oc or log K_F,oc decreased linearly with log f_oc (R² = 0.88-0.92) and log C/N ratio (R² = 0.57-0.76), but increased linearly with log (N+O)/C (R² = 0.93-0.95). The log q_max,oc decreased linearly as log f_oc and log C/N increased, whereas it increased with log O/C, log H/C and log (N+O)/C ratios. The log q_max,oc increased linearly with (N+O)/C indicating a strong dependence of q_max,oc on the polarity index. The results showed that PCE sorption behaviors were strongly correlated with the physicochemical properties of soil organic matter (SOM).

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.291-306
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• 2009

One-dimensional soil-column studies were carried out to understand the interaction of three industrial effluents namely amino acid ('highly acidic'), surfactant ('highly organic') and pharmaceutical ('organic and toxic') on the physicochemical behavior, index properties and shear strength of bentonite due to artificial contamination extending to nearly 300 days. Changes in inorganic and organic pollutants present in the effluents due to the interaction of the above effluents and soil were assessed to understand the physico-chemical behaviour. Batch and continuous modes of operation, 8 hrs and 16 hrs Hydraulic Retention Time [HRT] and 25%, 50% concentrations of effluents, were the parameters considered. Amino acid, surfactant and pharmaceutical effluents have shown a high variation in pH (7 to 8) after artificial contamination on bentonite that is their original characteristics of the above effluents have been completely reversed. Further, it is found that the shear strength of bentonite has reduced by about 20%, and with respect to liquid limit and plastic limit shows an increasing trend with time within the period of contamination.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.861-867
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• 2011

In order to understand the extent of contamination of the sediments on the Mankyoung and Dongjin Rivers flowing into the Saemangeum Reservoir, the concentrations of ignition loss (IL), COD, total nitrogen (T-N), total phosphorus (T-P), and heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn) were measured. The average concentrations of IL, COD, and T-P were 2.40 (${\pm}2.18$)%, 2.97 (${\pm}3.06$) mg/g sediment, 0.370 (${\pm}0.351$) mg/g sediment, respectively, showing the extent of contamination is not serious. However, the concentrations of these parameters in the samples taken in year 2009 were higher than those in year 2008, indicating the contamination of sediments goes on gradually. The concentrations of T-N were in the range of 0.59~13.11 mg/g sediment with variation of locations and seasons. It was determined that the T-N contamination is serious when the concentrations were compared with the dredging guidelines of sediments in the Korean freshwaters, indicating the countermeasures are required to maintain the water quality of the Saemangeum Reservoir. The concentrations of heavy metals except chromium did not exceed the worrisome level of soil contamination stipulated by the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea. The high concentration of chromium to be concerned in some samples from the upstream of Mankyoung River requires source analysis and countermeasure to control the contamination.