• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.731-739
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• 2021

This research aimed to analyze the characteristics of topsoil for soil conservation and promote the process of turning subsoil into topsoil. The physicochemical characteristics of topsoil and subsoil of different types of soil were compared, and their quantitative differences were examined. 204 soil samples were collected from a total of 102 areas according to rock types. These samples were tested to measure grain size, water content, and unit weight, along with XRF and XRD analyses. The topsoil and subsoil of the soil samples were also analyzed. The results of this research showed that the topsoil and subsoil had different physical characteristics, and that the chemical alteration index of the topsoil was higher than that of the subsoil. This would imply that the topsoil was high in clay minerals since it was directly affected by weathering more than the subsoil. In particular, vermiculite, one of the final products generated from weathering, was common in the topsoil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 1999

This study was conducted to determine the optimal collecting time and methods of utilization of forest topsoil as a seed-bank source for revegetation materials of slopes. From April to November of 1998, nursery seedbeds in the greenhouse of Seoul National University were seeded with mixtures of forest topsoil and seeds. The nursery seedbeds were treated to evaluate the effect of depths of forest topsoil and seeding amounts. Seasonal experiments with $3{\times}3$ factorial design were conducted in April, June and August. More than 40 seedlings/$m^2$ were observed as the naturally-emerged species in the plot, treated with the top-layer forest soil within the depth of 10cm. However, it was found, as seeding more seeds, the number of appearance of the naturally-emerged species reduced because of the heavy competition between the seeded and the naturally-emerged. According to the results of this research, it is recommended that seeding amount should be no more than 1,000 seeds/$m^2$ to avoid the severe competition. Also it was observed that the forest topsoil collected in spring(April) is better than that collected in summer. The more species of the naturally-emerged were found in the forest topsoil collected in spring. Forest-topsoil-mixed-materials as a seed-bank source could significantly increase the plant diversity and productivity. Effective use of forest topsoil as a seed-bank source may become a valuable tool in future restoration of disturbed slopes for promoting plant community diversity and recycling of spoiled-soils from the slopes.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2016

In this study, vegetation succession and the rate of consequent topsoil development were investigated in shallow landslide scars of sedimentary rock slopes covered by volcanic ashes and pumice in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan. Seven shallow landslide scars of different ages were selected as study areas. In the initial period after the occurrence of a shallow landslide, deciduous broad-leaved trees such as Mallotus japonicus or Callicarpa mollis were occupied in the areas. Approximately 30 years after the landslide, evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Cinnamomum japonicum invaded in the areas, already existed present deciduous broad-leaved trees. After 50 years, the summit of the canopy comprised evergreen broad-leaved trees such as Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii and Machilus thunbergii. Moreover, the diversity of vegetation invading the site reached the maximum after 15 years, followed by a decrease and stability in the number of trees. The total basal areas under vegetation increased with time. It was concluded that the vegetation community reaches the climax stage approximately 50 years after the occurrence of a shallow landslide in the study areas, in terms of the Fisher-Williams index of diversity (${\alpha}$) and the prevalence of evergreen broad-leaved trees. Moreover, according to the results of topsoil measurement in the study areas, the topsoil was formed at the rate of 0.31 cm/year. The development of topsoil usually functions to improve the multi-faceted functions of a forest. However, when the increased depth of topsoil exceeds the stability threshold, the conditions for a shallow landslide occurrence are satisfied. Therefore, we indicated to control the depth of topsoil and strengthen its resistance by forest management in order to restrain the occurrence of shallow landslides.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2015

Topsoil including numerous soil seedbanks has been known to be a valuable material for ecological restoration. There is a lack of specific study for its utilization in the field of stream restoration. This study conducted a revaluation of the value of topsoil as a material for stream restoration. Furthermore, an ecological technique using topsoil was applied in an improvement project of a stream environment at the Hwanggujicheon Stream in Korea. Stockpiling and spreading topsoil was specifically applied to the revegetation of a low slope revetment and a high flow plain. The result of this application showed that topsoil played an integral role in eco-friendly restoration in terms of ecological, flood control, economic, and constructional aspects. In conclusion, this study's findings suggest that topsoil is a suitable candidate material for stream restoration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2004

This research is of the rapid industrialization taking place resulting in the destruction of forests. The method that is implemented needs the vegetation to work well with the topsoil in order to restore the environment. In November the researcher collected a depth of 5 cm of topsoil from a well developed forest, after the fallen leaves were cleared. The results of the essential research are as follows : In the case of using the forest topsoil to plant trees latency seeds, during the early stages of tree planting, time is necessary for the desired vegetation to reach a similar state to the vegetation being restored. The results conclude that the best possible affect is obtained through a method utilizing seeded species. Utilizing forest topsoil, slopes that have been too damaged for trees to be planted can be sown with seeds. In addition the rearing of naturally-emerging species had a tendency to decline. When considering rearing naturally-emerging species to flourish in the topsoil, in the early stages of tree planting, the beginning foundation of sowing seeded species has to have a standard of about 1,000parts/$m^2$ This standard has been found to the most successful.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2014

The study aims to investigate and analyze actual situations of managing topsoil at forest development sites based on their types, in pursuit of conservation and effective use of national land. To do this, I selected target areas by deducting the typical types of forest development and analyzed the condition of soil at the target areas before and after development. In addition to this, I interviewed associated construction staffs to conduct study on present situations of topsoil management and find out its problems. I also surveyed of relevant experts, with the intention of seeking solutions. The results of the study have been shown that firstly, experts preferred collecting and recycling of topsoil as methods of improvement of soil conditions for plant growth. Secondly, the importance of topsoil has been well noticed and there were few construction sites using the methods. However, working and economical problems have disturbed carrying out these solutions. Thirdly, after constructions, organic matter and total-nitrogen content decreased in general which were necessary for plant growth in terms of soil conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1389-1394
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• 2012

This study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest development area. The results of physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest development area shown on the average loamy sand~sandy clay loam in soil texture, 5.3~7.1 in pH, 0.02~0.18 dS/m in EC, 0.7~1.8% in OM, 0.03~0.11% in T-N, 11~15 $cmol^+/kg$ in CEC, 0.02~0.04 $cmol^+/kg$ in $K^+$, 4.51~8.18 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Ca^{2+}$, 0.93~2.77 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Mg^{2+}$, 6~49 mg/kg in available phosphate. And the results of physicochemical properties of topsoil from forest non-development area shown on the average sandy loam~sandy clay loam in soil texture, 4.4~5.3 in pH, 0.03~0.05 dS/m in EC, 3.1~4.6% in OM, 0.13~0.23% in T-N, 14~18 $cmol^+/kg$ in CEC, 0.02~0.04 $cmol^+/kg$ in $K^+$, 0.78~3.82 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Ca^{2+}$, 0.29~1.31 $cmol^+/kg$ in $Mg^{2+}$, 3~31 mg/kg in Av. $P_2O_5$. On the other hand, forest development area of topsoil sand content higher than 8~18% sand content than the forest non-development area. This trend is thought to be the absence of topsoil management development projects. Consequently, the results suggested a high potential of recycling of the topsoil from forest non-development area for planting soil. Therefore, in construction of the conservation and management of topsoil from forest non-development area is very important.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2011

Bacterial contamination of beach sand was examined in April, June, July, and August. Twenty four topsoil and subsoil samples were taken from the 1m and 5m points from the coastline in three Busan beaches (Haeundae, Gwanganli, and Songjeong). The 5m points from the coastline showed higher coliform contamination than 1 m points. July showed the highest bacterial contamination on beaches among surveyed months. Coliform contamination in the subsoil was higher than that of the topsoil. The bacterial contamination of 5m points of topsoil and subsoil in June except the Songjeong Beach was higher than those of July and August. We investigated Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio cholerae, and Bacillus cereus. Only B. cereus was detected at the beach in August. Although microbiological pollution of the Gwanganli Beach was the highest among three Busan beaches, the degree of contamination was not high compared to those of other countries. However, sandy soil management in public beach for pathogenic microorganisms is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.543-555
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• 2015

The existing standard for soil erosion risk assessment has limitations in sustainable topsoil management since the fixed criteria are applied to determination of soil erosion risk areas regardless of land use types. It may not be necessary to apply soil erosion best management practices to agricultural areas with high potential of soil erosion because human or economic damage derived from soil erosion might be tiny in that region. Furthermore, the fixed criterion with absolute values can select too many hot spots of soil erosion to conduct efficient soil erosion management. Thus, objective of this study was to suggest the relative criteria using statistical analysis for efficient soil erosion management. In future, the relative indices for soil erosion prevention should be improved to provide a priority of soil erosion management considering economic damage from soil erosion or functional values of soil with quantitative soil erosion. Additional researches will be needed to reflect a regional characteristics and to consider various land use types and different criteria.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.479-485
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• 2016

Background: Planting vigorous cuttings that quickly develop shoots and roots is essential to the biological and economic success of producing medicinal flowers. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of storage temperature and duration on seedling capacity in the propagation of Chrysanthemum indicum L. and to investigate the effect of rooting media on the growth of C. indicum L. after cutting. Methods and Results: Returning cuttings to supplemental cold storage ($2.0{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$) may extend duration of cutting viability 6 weeks, returning cuttings to supplemental warm storage ($25.0{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$) is not recommended. The treatment of the growing media experiments, which were conducted in the 2014 planting seasons, included sawdust, river sand, topsoil + sawdust, topsoil + poultry manure, sawdust + river sand, river sand + poultry manure, topsoil + river sand + poultry manure, topsoil + poultry manure + river sand + sawdust. Result indicated that the topsoil + poultry manure media performed best and supported the highest number of branches (3.47), branch length (26.39), and number of leaves (88.63). Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that cold storage and the topsoil + poultry manure growth media was superior in supporting the early establishment of C. indicum cutting, this result will have a tremendous influence on propagation of this species.