• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.391-394
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• 2003

The applicability of in situ microbial filter or biobarrier technology for the remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents was investigated. The efficiency and rates of reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents are known to be highly dependent on hydrogen concentration. In this study, the effect of electron donors on the reductive dechlorination of PCE was investigated using vermicompost (worm casting) and peat as permeable reactive barrier medium The effect of organic acids (lactate, butyrate and benzoate), yeast extract and vitamin $B_{l2}$ on the reductive dechlorination was investigated. Compared to the control (no electron donor added), addition of electron donors stimulated the dechlorinated rate. Among the electron donor treatments, lactate/benzoate amendment exhibited the highest dechlorination rate. Since vermicompost and peat are inexpensive and biodegradable and have high sorption capacity, they could be successfully used as biobarrier media, especially when electron donors (for example, lactate/benzoate) are added.d.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.242-247
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• 2017

This study presents a bio-chemical energy harvesting system which can generate electric power from bioorganic substance contained in vermicompost. It produced electricity by inoculating microbial fuel cell(MFC) with earthworm-composted food waste. The generated electricity was converted into usable voltage level for mobile electronics through power conditioning circuits. The implemented prototype showed $200{\mu}W$ of maximum output electric power, which successfully supplied a beacon device which continuously transmitted data to nearby smartphone without a battery. The proposed system can help develop portable or bio-mimetic energy supply for sustainable use with further improvement.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.22-37
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• 2006

The applicability of biobarrier or in situ microbial filter technology for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvent was investigated through batch microcosm study. The efficiency and rates of reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) are known to be highly dependent on hydrogen concentration. In this study, the effect of electron donors on the reductive dechlorination of PCE was investigated using vermicompost (or worm casting) and peat as a biobarrier medium. The effect of organic acids (lactate, butyrate and benzoate), yeast extract and vitamin $B_{12}$ on the reductive dechlorination was investigated. In the absence of biobarrier medium (adsorbent), addition of electron donors stimulated the dechlorination rate of PCE compared to the control experiment (i.e., no electron donor added). Among the treatments, addition of lactate or lactate/benzoate as hydrogen donor exhibited the highest dechlorination rate ($k_1=0.0260{\sim}0.0266\;day^{-1}$). In case of using vermicompost as a biobarrier medium, amendment of lactate/benzoate exhibited the highest dechlorination rate following with a pseudo-first-order degradation rate constant of $k_1=0.0849\;day^{-1}$. In contrast, when Pahokee peat was used as a biobarrier medium, either butyrate or lactate addition exhibited the highest dechlorination rate with $k_1$ values of 0.1092 and $0.1067\;day^{-1}$, respectively. The results of this study showed the potential applicability of in situ biobarrier technology using vermicompost or peat as a barrier material for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvent.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.11-21
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• 2022

Sorption of phenanthrene (PHE) and pyrene (PYR) in several sorbents, i.e., natural soil, BionSoil^®, Pahokee peat, vermicompost and Devonian Ohio Shale and a surfactant (hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride)-modified montmorillonite (HDTMA-M) were investigated. Pyrene exhibited higher sorption tendency than phenanthrene, as predicted by its higher octanol to water partition coefficient (K_ow). Several sorption models: linear, Freundlich, solubility-normalized Freundlich model, and Polanyi-Manes model (PMM) were used to analyze sorption isotherms. Linear isotherms were observed for natural soil, BionSoil^®, Pahokee peat, vermicompost, while nonlinear Freundlich isotherms fitted for Ohio shale and HDTMA-M. The relationship between sorption model parameters, organic carbon content (f_oc), and elemental C/N ratio was studied. In the binary competitive sorption of phenanthrene and pyrene in natural soil, competition between the solutes caused reduction in the sorption of each solute compared with that in the single-solute system. The ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) coupled with the single-solute Freundlich model was not successful in describing the binary competitive sorption equilibria. This was due to the inherent nature of linear sorption of phenanthrene and pyrene in natural soil. The result indicates that the applicability of IAST for the prediction of binary competitive sorption is limited when the sorption isotherms are inherently linear.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2018

Soil characteristics along with various container lengths have an important role in the early survival rate and growth of seedlings by influencing the seedling quality. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of container length and different soil mixtures on the growth of poplar in a greenhouse. Two types of soil, homogeneous vs. heterogeneous, were used along with two container lengths (30 vs. 60 cm). The heterogeneous soil was made by dividing 50% vermiculite from a mixture of 25% vermicompost and 25% nursery soil in volume. For the homogeneous soil, the above three soil types were mixed together. Populus euramericana clone cuttings were planted in late April, and then, the growth height, root collar diameter (RCD) and biomass were measured in August. The height of the poplar was not significantly affected by container length and soil type, but the RCD was significantly affected by soil type. Leaf and root biomass was higher at the long container than at the short container for both soil treatments, but stem biomass was lower at the heterogeneous soil than at the homogeneous soil treatment. Root to shoot biomass ratio was higher at the heterogeneous soil treatment than at the homogeneous soil treatment by 12%. In conclusion, heterogeneous soil along with a long container is suitable to increase the carbon allocation into the root.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2004

Due to recent scientific innovations in mulberry cultivation, leaf yield has been increased manifold. However, with successive leaf harvest, a quantum drop in leaf yield and quality has been noted. This inturn has affected the silkworm rearing and farmers suffered by the frequent crop failures. This is mainly due to nutrient deficiencies in mulberry leaf. Moreover, no complete information is available about hunger signs of nutritional disorders, analytical diagnosis and critical levels of nutrients required. The present paper, thus, may serve as an important nutrient guide for identification of hunger signs, leaf nutrients status under deficiency and critical levels of the elements namely N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn requirements for higher leaf yield and quality. The leaf nutrient status provided may help chemist for correcting the soil status. Besides, an integration of mulberry intercropping with legumes and applications of neem and castor oil cakes, VA-mycorrhizal inoculation, biofertilizer and vermicompost are suggested as integrated nutrient management for sustainable sericulture industry. Based on the information described in this paper, a model needs to be framed for maintaining continuous supply of nutrients to obtain desired quantity and quality of mulberry leaf for successful silkworm cocoon crop and increasing overall silk productivity.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.165-169
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• 2009

A field experiment to evaluate the effect of application of different organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of leaf was studied during 2004-05 has showed that, the application of 10 kg each of Azospirillum brasilense and Aspergillus awamori+20% each of recommended N through compost+green manure (Glyricidia maculata)+castor cake+vermicompost+Urea and remaining P and K through fertilizers ($T_{11}$) has recorded significantly higher leaf yield (250 g/ plant and 34.70 tonnes/ha/yr, respectively) with improvement in growth characters as compared to control. Leaf quality status was also improved in terms of N (3.19%), P (1.97%), K (1.28%), total soluble protein (8.39 mg/ml), total soluble sugars (14.40 mg/ml), secondary nutrients viz., Ca (3.00%), Mg (0.60%), S (0.35%) and micronutrients viz., Cu (0.410 ppm), Mn (0.454 ppm) and Zn (0.112 ppm) contents. The mulberry grown with 20 tonnes of compost+300:120:120 Kg of NPK/ha/year through fertilizer ranked second for growth and foliar constituents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.23-31
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• 2005

Green spaces in cities were insufficient and decreased as artificial structures increase. Accordingly, greening rooftop space contributed to urban ecosystems as green space. Especially, since 2002 Seoul supported rooftop greening and introduced 'Ecology-area rates'. Thus rooftop greening had the potentiality of extension. This prepared the extensive rooftop greenings within planting-base for extensive management rooftop greening system to be easily popularized. The extensive rooftop greening conducted from 1997-2005 reported that soil depth was 8cm and soil mixtures were 5 types. And plant were Crysanthemum zawaskii var. latilobum, Aster hayatae, Crysanthemum zawaskii herb. ssp. coreanum, Sedum sarmentosum, Sedum rotundifolium, Sedum oryzifolium, Sedum takemensis, Sedum middendorffianum, Sedum telerium var. purpureum, Sedum spectabile, Carypteris incana, Dianthus superbus, Hosta minor. As a result, for nine years after the modular type rooftop greening established, survival plants were Sedum takemensis, Sedum sarmentosum, Sedum spectabile, Sedum middendorffianum, Carypteris incana, Crysanthemum zawaskii var. latilobum, Sedum telerium var. purpureum, Sedum rotundifolium, Dianthus superbus. Also effect of greening was possibled soil depth 8cm. And growth of plants from 1997 to 2005 were fine on two soil mixtures of 'perlite+peatmoss+vermicompost+moisturizer' and 'perlite+moisturizer+bark(mulching)'. Invasive plants are Ixeris dentata Nakai, Ixeris chinensis var. strigosa, Youngia sonchifolia, Eragrostis ferruginea, Aster pilosus Willd., Ixeris japonica Nakai, Valpia myuros, and Setaria viridis. In conclusion, selection of suitable native plants was possible extensive management rooftop greening with effect of continuous greening. The extensive rooftop greening were lightweight and simple preparation without management and can popularize readily.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.130-138
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• 2004

Food wastes with different regional origins were mixed with bulking agent such as paper mill sludge or night soil, and aged for 21 days or 28 days. And aged food wastes were fed to the earthworm(tiger worm, Eisenia fetida) for 60 days. There were no significant physico-chemical differences among the food wastes with different regional origins. EC values and NaCl concentrations in food wastes were too high for earthworms to survive. Food wastes mixed with paper mill sludge were vermicomposted more efficiently than food wastes mixed with night soil, but the over-all vermicomposting rates on the food wastes were much lower than that on paper mill sludge because EC values and NaCl concentrations were still high for earthworm to compost the feeds. Earthworm population did not increase its biomass on the food wastes mixed with paper mill sludge or night soil, whereas earthworm population fed with paper mill sludge increased its biomass by 20% for 60 days. It could be concluded that a solution for reducing NaCl concentrations in food waste should be developed to vermicompost food waste.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.305-308
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• 2004

Recently, with increasing concern for sustainable agriculture and safe agricultural products, organic farming has become widely adapted as an alternative to conventional farming. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of earthworm casts (EWC) with $100\%$ organic compost on the growth and yield characteristics of fall-cropping potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dejima) in Jeju. The treatments consisted of seven plots: 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-ton $ha^{-1}$ EWC-treated plots, 1.2-ton $ha^{-1}$ complex fertilizer $(N-P_2O_5-K_2O,\;10-10-14)-for-potato$ (CEP)-treated plot as conventional practices, and a control plot. The plant heights were greater in the plots where EWC and CFP were applied than in the control plot. Tuber diameter, number of stems per plant, and chlorophyll level tended to increase in the plots where 8-10 tons $ha^{-1}$ of EWC were applied. The application of CFP and EWC showed an increment in the average tuber weight per plant, but there was minimal significant difference. The application of 8-10 tons $ha^{-1}$ of EWC resulted in an increase in the total tuber yield (21.61-21.87 tons $ha^{-1}$) as compared to the other plots. The highest yield of market able tubers was $69.8\%$ of the total yield from the 10-ton $ha^{-1}$ EWC-treated plot. Consequently, with regard to the growth and yield characteristics of fall-cropping potato, the effects of EWC application were more favorable than the effects of the application of a chemical fertilizer.