• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2014

This research was conducted to develop root media containing ground and aged pine bark (GAPB) and ground and raw pine bark (GRPB). After analysis of physico chemical properties, the pine barks were blended with peat moss (PM) or coir dust (CD) in various ratios to formulate 12 root media. Then, two out of 12 root media were chosen based on the physical properties for further experiments. The pre-planting nutrient charge fertilizers (PNCF) were incorporated into two root media and chemical properties were analysed again. The total porosity (TP), container capacity (CC), and air-filled porosity (AFP) of GAPB were 78.7%. 39.4%, and 38.3%, respectively, while those of GRPB were 74.7%, 41.2%, and 33.4%, respectively. The percentage of easily available water (EAW, from CC to 4.90 kPa tension) and buffering water (BW, 4.91-9.81 kPa tension) in GAPB were 12.7% and 8.5%, respectively, which were a little lower than the 13.5% and 8.8% in GRPB. The pH and EC were not different significantly, but cation exchange capacity was different between the two pine barks (GAPB: pH 5.26, EC $0.61dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, CEC $15.7meq{\cdot}100g^{-1}$; GRPB: pH 5.19, EC $0.32dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, CEC $9.32meq{\cdot}100g^{-1}$). The concentrations of exchangeable cations in GAPB were Ca 0.32, K 0.05, Mg 0.27 and $0.12cmol+{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, whereas those in GRPB were Ca 0.28, K 0.08, Mg 0.25 and $0.09cmol+{\cdot}kg^{-1}$. The concentrations of $PO_4$-P, $NH_4$-N and $NO_3$-N were 485.8, 0.62 and $0.91mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in GAPB and 578, 1.00 and $0.82mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in GRPB, respectively, when those were analyzed in the solution of the saturated paste. The TP, CC and AFP in the two selected media were 89.3 and 76.3, and 13.0% in PM+GAPB (8:2, v/v) and 88.2, 68.2 and 20.0% in CD+GRPB (8:2), respectively. The pHs and ECs were 3.8 and $0.24dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in PM+GAPB which were a little lower than 5.8 and $0.65dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in CD+GRPB. However, the pHs analysed before and after incorporation of PNCF in the two root media did not show large differences. This is because the solubility of dolomitic lime is very low, and the pH it is expected to rise gradually when crops are cultivated int he root media. The information obtained in this study should facilitate effective formulation of root media containing pine bark.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2023

This study was aimed to determine the effects of grow media on the mineral contents of the leaves and growth characteristics of strawberry grown under aquaponics system in a plant factory. For aquaculture, 12 fish (Cyprinus carpio) (total weight, 2.0 kg) were raised in an aquaponics tank (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.45 m, 472.5 L) filled with 367.5 L of water at a density of 5.44 kg·m^-3 and total 34 of strawberry seedlings were transplanted in the pots filed with 200 g of orchid stone, hydroball or polyurethane sponge in the growing bed (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.22 m) laid out with holly acrylic sheet (140×60 mm, Ø80) on the top of the system. The pH and EC of the aquaponic solution was ranged from 7.6 to 4.9 and 0.24-0.91 dS·m^-1, respectively. The concentration of NO_3-N was about 28% lower than that of the hydroponic standard solution, and K, Fe and B were 10, 27 and 3.8 times lower, respectively; however, the mineral contents of strawberry leaves were in the appropriate ranges with lower contents in the leaves grown with sponge media. The organic content (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the sludge were 61.5, 5.72, 8.92, and 0.24%, respectively. The leaf area, leaf number, and dry and fresh weights of shoot at 81 DAT were significantly higher in the hydroball, and the average number of fruits per plant was significantly higher in both the orchid stone and hydroball. There was no significant difference in the fresh and dry weights of fruits. Integrated all the results suggest that the orchid stone and hydroball media are more effective to utilize nutrients in solid particles of aquaponic solution, compared to the polyurethane sponge.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.239-253
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• 1999

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various kinds of composts on the change of soil chemical properties in upland soils. Field experiments were conducted in the loam and sandy loam soils. Various kinds of composts such as poultry manure compost(PMC), cow manure compost(CMC), human excrement sludge(HES), and food industrial sludge compost(FISC) were applied annually at rates of 0, 40, and $80Mg\;ha^{-1}$ to soils grown with soybean and maize plants for 4 years during 1994 to 1997. The results of this study were as follows : The continuous application of human excrement sludge decreased soil pH up to 4.4~5.0, while other compost treatments increased soil pH compared with control plot. The EC increased initially and showed their maximum values at 20days after compost application, and then decreased up to 40 days, thereafter kept a certain level. The available phosphorous accumulated at 0~20cm depth in loam soil, and 0~50cm in sandy loam soil. Annual accumulation rates were 17% higher in sandy loam soil than loam soil. The more compost application rates and times, the higher base saturation percentage increased in upland soils. Four year's application at a rate of $80Mg\;ha^{-1}$ per year increased the base saturation percentage to 87~91% compared with 45% at control plot in the loam soil. While in sandy loam soil only three year's application of same rate increased the base saturation percentage to 81~92% compared with 30.4% at control plot. The average annual increasing rate of base saturation percentage at the same application rates of composts were higher in sandy loam soil by 2.0~3.7 times than in loam soil. The application of compost increased the exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K contents of soils by 2, 2~3, and 3~5 times, respectively, compared with the control. The contents of exchangeable canons were high in surface soil. and decreased with increase of soil depths. In the case of heavy metal content, there were no difference at the application of PMC and CMC but Ni. Fe, Zn, Cu was increased a little when the HES applied, and Ni and Cr was increased application with FISC.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.613-626
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• 2010

Coming with the well-being era, consumer's demand for safe agricultural products is increasing. It is urgent to develop an environment-friendly pear production system. Accordingly, this study was conducted to develop an environment-friendly pear production system by using several environment-friendly agricultural materials which is known to be effective in agricultural production. In the effects of environment-friendly agricultural materials on the soil chemical characteristics in pear orchard, the content of total carbon, organic matter, Ca and Mg increased a little respectively compared with those of 2008, and 2nd treatment showed the highest EC and Mg content in the soil among treatments. The content of leaf N, P and Ca in 2009 decreased compared with those of 2008, while Mg content showed no difference between 2008 and 2009 years. Average pear weight in 2009 was 31g higher than that of 2008 (682g) and 2nd treatment showed the highest pear weight (738g) among treatments. The average sugar content was higher in 2009 (12.6$^{\circ}Bx$) compared with that of 2008 (12.2$^{\circ}Bx$) and the plot of 2nd treatment highest sugar content (12.6$^{\circ}Bx$) among treatments. There were no difference in hunter value of L among treatments, but hunter value of a showed higher 1.62 in 2009 than that of 2008 (3.73). The highest of gumminess and cohesiveness of fruits were obtained from 1st treatment and adhesiveness and chewiness of fruits were obtained from 3rd and 1st treatment respectively. Firmness of fruit increased a little in 2009 compared with that of 2008, while the highest firmness was obtained from 3rd treatment with 1.63kg/5mm$\oint$ among treatments. Phosphate content in the peel of 'Niitaka' pear of fruit skin in 2009 (0.97g/kg) showed 0.06g/kg more content than that of 2008 (0.91g/kg), while the highest content was obtained from 3rd treatment (1.15g/kg). Potassium content in the peel of 'Niitaka' pear in 2009 was 8.20g/kg, which is 0.06g/kg more content than that of 2008 (7.82g/kg) and the highest content was obtained from 1st treatment (8.34g/kg) among treatments. The highest nitrogen content in the flesh of 'Niitaka' pear was obtained from 3rd treatment (4.32mg/g), while it was the lowest in control plot (3.10mg/g). Phosphate content in the flesh of 'Niitaka' pear in 2009 (8.20g/kg) showed 0.06g/kg more content than that of 2008 (7.82g/kg), while the highest content was obtained from 1st treatment (8.34g/kg). There were no difference of the potassium content in the fruit peel of 'Niitaka' pear between years, but 1st treatment showed the highest content (11.81g/kg) among treatments, while the lowest was obtained from the control plot (10.83g/kg).