Search

Excess nutrients are easily accumulated in greenhouse soils due to the interception of rainfall by plastic film and repeated over-application of compost and fertilizers. This study was conducted to evaluate the application of electrokinetic (E/K) technology for salt removal from soils with high electrical conductivity (EC) in greenhouses. Three types of soil in plastic film greenhouses were used: artificial soil (Site A), poorly drained soil (Site B), and well-drained soil (Site C). The salt-enriched surface soils were used to fill 37-cm-long-box-type E/K cells, and a constant voltage gradient was applied at a rate of 1 V cm−1 for 30 days. The decrease in soil EC was achieved with water content of greater than 30% for silt loam (Sites A and B) and 20% for sandy loam (Site C). The E/K technology decreased soil EC by more than 80%, with a greater reduction ratio for sandy loam than for silt loam. After 30 days of the E/K treatment, 98–99% of NO3-N and 95–99% of sodium were removed in all three sites under saturated condition, implying that nitrate and sodium ions had higher mobility than the other ions during the E/K process. The results obtained from the study suggested, therefore, that the E/K technology is highly efficient for wet and nitrate-enriched sandy loam soils, and the technology can be a feasible and environmentally sound practice for the removal of excessive nutrients in greenhouse soils without water pollution by nutrients such as nitrate as can be caused by flooding and repeated washing with water.

Anthropogenic soil in cropland is formed in the process of subsoil reversal and the refill of soil into cropland. However, there was little information on the chemical properties within soil profiles in anthropogenic soil under rice paddy near the river. In this study, we investigated the chemical properties within soil profiles in the anthropogenic soil located at 4 sites in Gumi, Kimhae, Chungju, and Euiseong to compare with the natural paddy soil near the river. Among particle sizes, the sand content decreased under soil profiles but the silt and clay contents increased compared to the natural paddy soil in soil profiles. Organic matter content in topsoil of anthropogenic soil was lower than in that of natural soil, which was shown the contrary tendency within soil profiles. Also, the soil pH, available P2O5, and exchangeable cations were higher in anthropogenic soil compared to natural paddy soil at topsoil, which was maintained these tendency into soil depth. Nutrients may be equally distributed in anthropogenic soil during the process of refill in paddy soil near the river. This results indicated that anthropogenic soil would contribute to carbon sequestration, the mitigation of compaction, and reduction of fertilizer application in paddy soil. Therefore, characteristics of anthropogenic soil can be used for the soil management in cropland.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) retention has gradually gotten attention due to the need for mitigation of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and the simultaneous increase in crop productivity. We estimated the statistical maximum value of soil organic carbon (SOC) fixed by clay content using the Korean detailed soil map database. Clay content is a major factor determining SOC of subsoil because it influences the vertical mobility and adsorption capacity of dissolved organic matter. We selected 1,912 soil data of B and C horizons from 13 soil series, Sangju, Jigog, Jungdong, Bonryang, Anryong, Banho, Baegsan, Daegog, Yeongog, Bugog, Weongog, Gopyeong, and Bancheon, mainly distributed in Korean upland. The ranges of SOC and clay content were 0 - 40 g kg -1 and 0 - 60%, respectively. Soils having more than 25% clay content had much lower SOC in subsoil than topsoil, probably due to low vertical mobility of dissolved organic carbon. The statistical analysis of SOC storage potential of upland subsoil, performed using 90%, 95%, and 99% maximum values in cumulative SOC frequency distribution in a range of clay content, revealed that these results could be applicable to soils with 1% - 25% of clay content. The 90% SOC maximum values, closest to the inflection point, at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25% of clay contents were 7g kg -1 , 10 g kg -1 , 12 g kg -1 , and 13 g kg -1 , respectively. We expect that the statistical analysis of SOC maximum values for different clay contents could contribute to quantifying the soil carbon sink capacity of Korean upland soils.

The monolithic weighing lysimeter is a useful facility that could directly measure water movement via layers, drainage, and evapotranspiration (ET) with precise sensors. We evaluated water movement through layers and water balance using the lysimeter with undisturbed paddy sandy loam soil, Gangseo soil series (mesic family of Anthraquic Eutrudepts classified by Soil Taxonomy) during winter season from Dec. 2014 to Feb. 2015. Daily ET indicated up to 1.5 mm in December and January and 2 mm in February. The abrupt increase of soil water tension at the depth of 0.1 m, when soil temperature at the same depth was below 2°C, was observed due to temporary frost heaving. The surface evaporation was less than reference ET below -15 kPa of soil water potential at the depth of 0.1 m. The maximum drainage rate was similar to the saturated hydraulic conductivity of a plow pan layer. Both upward and downward water movement, related to ET and drainage, were retarded by a plow pan layer. This study demonstrated that the lysimeter study could well quantify water balance components even under frost heaving during winter season and that a plow pan with low permeability could act as a boundary that affects drainage and evapotranspiration.

This experiment was conducted in Suwon and Iksan city from 2012 to 2014 to evaluate soil erosion and nutrient loss from irrigated paddy fields during cropping period. Rainfall amount and rainfall erosivity of EI 30 were, on average, 1,026 ㎜ and 3,922 ㎜ ㏊ -1 yr -1 hr -1 for the cropping period, respectively, and the rainfall event with maximum EI 30 occurred in July. Annual average of runoff was 2,508 MT ㏊ -1 yr -1 in Suwon and 3,375 MT ㏊ -1 yr -1 in Iksan, accounting for 36% of rainfall of the cropping period. Nutrient loss by runoff, on average, was 7.0 ㎏ N ha -1 yr -1 , 1.3 ㎏ P ㏊ -1 yr -1 , and 16.6 ㎏ K ㏊ -1 yr -1 ; N, P, and K loss were 5.0, 0.6, and 8.3 ㎏ ㏊ -1 yr -1 , respectively, in Suwon and 8.9, 1.9, and 16.7 ㎏ ㏊ -1 yr -1 in Iksan. Soil loss in Korean paddy rice was evaluated as 0.33 MT ㏊ -1 yr -1 ranging from 0.05 MT ㏊ -1 yr -1 to 0.88 MT ㏊ -1 yr -1 . Amount of soil loss, however, depended on areas and year influenced by variation of rainfall amount and intensity. Interestingly, soil erosion in Iksan in 2012 was remarkably greater than those in other periods due to heavy rainfall between late May and June with soil flake dispersion right after the rice-planting season.

Rice cultivation in paddy field affects the global balance of methane (CH₄) as a key greenhouse gas. To evaluate a potential use of by-product gypsum fertilizer (BGF) in reducing CH₄ emission from paddy soil, CH₄ fluxes from a paddy soil applied with BGF different levels (0, 2, 4 and 8 Mg ha -1 ) were investigated by closed-chamber method during rice cultivation period. CH₄ flux significantly decreased (p -1 of BGF addition in soil reduced CH₄ flux by 60.6% compared to control. Decreased soil redox potential (Eh) resulted in increasing CH₄ emission through a CO₂ reduction reaction. The concentrations of dissolved calcium (Ca) and sulfate ion (SO₄ 2- ) in soil pore water were significantly increased as the application rate of BGF increased and showed negatively correlations with CH₄ flux. Decreased CH₄ flux with BGF application implied that SO₄ 2- ion led to decreases in electron availability for methanogen and precipitation reaction of Ca ion with inorganic carbon including carbonate and bicarbonate as a source of CH₄ formation under anoxic condition. BGF application also increased rice grain yield by 16% at 8 Mg ha -1 of BGF addition. Therefore, our results suggest that BGF application can be a good soil management practice to reduce CH₄ emission from paddy soil and to increase rice yield.

It is necessary to assess soil physical properties and crop growth treated by compaction to establish the soil management standard. This study evaluated the bulk density, strength and crop growth after subsoil compaction for sandy loam and loam on the field in Suwon, Korea. The treatments were compaction and deep tillage. Sandy loam and loam were classified to coarse soil and fine soil, respectively, depending on clay contents. In coarse soil, bulk density of compacted plot was 8~17% greater than control and deep tilled plot. The root growth was worse in compacted plot compared with control. In fine soil, plow pan was not observed in deep tilled plot with 5~19% smaller bulk density than compacted plot and control. Deep tillage improved the crop growth. The soil physical properties by compaction were dependent on clay content and crop growth limit depended on the traffic driving.

In highland crop fields, saprolite is piled up approximately every three years as deep much as 20 to 30 cm because farmers expect that adding new materials may improve productivity and mitigate hazards by continuous cultivation of a single crop. Piling saprolite, however, has been reported to induce poor soil drainage. Effects of deep ploughing with a spading machine and an excavator were studied in sites located in Daekwanryeong-myeon, Pyeongchang in which soil physical properties were deteriorated by piled saprolite. The soil made of parent material of Samgag series was piled up over surface soil of Haggog series naturally developed in the area. Carrot was cultivated in the field. Productivity and growth factors of carrot were compared among control and deep ploughing by a spading machine and an excavator. Effective soil depth extended to 60 cm or greater by 60 cm deep ploughing by an excavator or 50 cm deep ploughing by a spading machine. On the other hand, effective soil depth was within 50 cm at control plot. Productivity of carrot responded to amelioration of soil physical properties. The productivity was greater in deep ploughing treatments than that of control or 30 cm ploughing. It suggested that increased productivity by deep ploughing was mainly related to breaking plough pan which inhibited extension of rooting zone.

Plant root penetration through soil profile is restricted by compacted layer such as plow pan under conventional tillage. For detecting the compact layer, we made a graduated T-shape probe and measured compared between the depths with rapid change in feeling hardness of hand penetration using T-shape probe and with a rapid increase of penetrometer cone index. On upland crops, including red pepper, corn, soybean and cucumber, plow pan depth ranged from 10 cm to 25 cm depth. The effective rooting depth (ER) had significant correlation with the plow pan depth (PP) except soils with the shallow ground water and/or poorly drained soil. The regression equation was ER = 0.9*PP (R²= 0.54**, N= 14) with the applicative PP range of 10-25 cm.

This study explored the effect of rainfall pattern and soil characteristics on water management in rice paddy fields, using a soil water balance model, BUDGET. In two sites with different soil textural group, coarse loamy soil (Gangseo series) and fine soil (Hwadong series), respectively, we have monitored daily decrease of water depth, percolation rate, and groundwater table. The observed evapotranspiration (ET) was obtained from differences between water depth decrease and percolation rate. The root mean square difference values between observed and BUDGET-estimated ET ranged between 10% and 20% of the average observed ET. This is comparable to the measurement uncertainty, suggesting that the BUDGET model can provide reliable ET estimation for rice fields. In BUDGET model of this study, irrigation requirement was determined as minimum water need for maintaining water-saturated soil surface, assuming 100 mm of bund height and no lateral loss of water. The model results showed different water balance and irrigation requirement with the different soil profile and indicated that minimum percolation rate by plow pan could determine the irrigation requirement of rice paddy field. For the condition of different rainfall distribution, the results presented different irrigation period and amounts, representing the importance of securing water for irrigation against different rainfall pattern.

Bad drainage problems from paddy fields adjacent to roads are caused by higher constructed roads which change topography of paddy fields to concave topography and artificial pan to prevent road erosion when road constructions are occurred. This study investigated effects of topography changes on soils by road constructions. Soil samples were investigated by physico-chemical analyses and micromorphology analyses from representative soil profile of Sachon series and soil samples. The characteristics of Sachon series that were adjacent to roads were fewer redoximorphic features (RMF) and increase in grey layers than the original Sachon series. The characteristics of Yecheon Series were shown from Jeollanamdo - Suncheon > Chungchungnamdo - Cheonan > Gangwondo - Wonju. Mosaic speckles were shown from micromorphological analyses because of repeat of shrink and expansion by wetting and drying. The location of graying in soil clods were found from coarse stone blocks to fine stone blocks and color changes of composed particles were also found.

Six study sites in Gumi, Goryeong in Gyeongbuk province and Naju in Jeonnam province were selected to investigate soil properties of poorly drained horizons in paddy soils. The horizons were re-established layers which were parent material layers originated from fluvial deposits. Topsoil layers were differentiated from piled parent materials while soil structure of the topsoil layer was massive with striated microstructure. Compaction at soil re-establishment and a lack of structure and aggregate development in these soils may cause the limitation of vertical water movement and result in poorly drained horizons. Soil samples were taken from paddy fields with top soils of sandy loam, silt loam and silty clay loam and re-established soils of coarse and fine texture. The samples were taken from each horizon for the analyses of soil chemical and mineral properties. Soils with re-established soils of coarse texture had greater amounts of sands from top soil texture distributions, while soils with fine texture had greater amounts of silts. Chemical properties of top soils were analyzed from rice cultivated soils at the time of re-establishments and one year after the re-establishments. The coarse texture of the re-established horizons decreased in EC values from 0.23 to 0.11 (dS m -1 ), available phosphate values from 112 to 54 (mg kg -1 ), and exchangeable Ca values from 6.6 to 4.9 (cmolc kg -1 ). On the other hand, soils with fine texture showed decrease only in pH and exchangeable Ca values. Especially, organic matter and available phosphate contents showed heterogeneous distributions from each horizon. This result may be caused by mixture of plough layer and subsurface layer during and consolidation. Hydraulic conductivity values were low at the boundaries of top soil and parent material layers except SL/coarse soil. Soil microstructure was massive structure without soil clods or pores and showed striated structure. Therefore, re-established paddy fields with fluvial deposits as parent material layers showed limited vertical movements of soil water because of occurrence of compacted layers and less-development of soil clods and aggregates.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of profile disturbance with different artificial accumulation history on physico-chemical properties of soil under plastic film house. The investigations included soil profile description using soil column cylinder auger F10cm x h110cm, in situ and laboratory measurements of soil properties at five sites each at the cucumber (Site Ic ~ Vc) and grape (Site Ig ~ Vg) plastic film houses with artificial soil accumulation. The sites except sites Ic, IVc, IVg and Vg, belong to ex-paddy area. The types of accumulates around root zone included sandy loam soil for 3 sites, loam soil for 1 site, saprolite for 2 sites, and multi-layer with different accumulates for 3 sites. Especially, Site IIg has mixed plow zone (Ap horizon) with original soil and saprolite, whereas disturbed soil layers of the other sites are composed of only external accumulates. The soil depth disturbed by artificial accumulation ranged from 20 cm, for Site IIg, to whole measured depth of 110 cm, for Site IVc, Vc, and Site IVg. Elapsed time from artificially accumulation to investigation time ranged from 3 months, Site IIc, to more than 20 years, Site Vg, paddy-soil covering over well-drained upland soil during land leveling in 1980s. Disturbed top layer in all sites except Site Vg had no structure, indicating low structural stability. In situ infiltration rate had no correlation with texture or organic matter content, but highest value with highest variability in Site IIIc, the shortest elapsed time since sandy loam soil accumulation. Relatively low infiltration rate was observed in sites accumulated by saprolite with coarse texture, presumably because its low structural stability in the way of weathering process could result in relatively high compaction in agro-machine work or irrigation. In all cucumber sites, there were water-transport limited zone with very low permeable or impermeability within 50 cm under soil surface, but Site IIg, IIIg, and Vg, with relatively weak disturbance or structured soil, were the reverse. We observed the big change in texture and re-increase of organic matter content, available phosphate, and exchangeable cations between disturbed layer and original soil layer. This study, therefore, suggest that the accumulation of coarse material such as saprolite for cultivating cash crop under plastic film house might not improve soil drainage and structural stability, inversely showing weaker disturbance of original soil profile with higher drainage.

This research was performed to test the hypothesis that the optimal fertilization rate for lettuce is various with soil moisture conditions. The experiment was conducted under a rainfall-intercepted facility in Suwon, South Korea from 2002 to 2003. Soil was irrigated at 30, 50, or 80 kPa of soil moisture tension at 15 cm soil depth in 2002 spring and fall and 20, 30, 50, or 80 kPa in 2003 spring. Fertilization was performed with four levels in spring for both years: none, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 times of the recommended N, P, and K fertilization rate. The irrigation amount increased with decreased irrigation starting point as soil moisture tension. The maximum yield was found at the lowest soil moisture tension in spring while irrigation at 50 kPa resulted in the greatest yield in fall. The yield responses of lettuce to fertilization rates were various with soil moisture condition. In spring, maximum yield was found at 1.0 or 1.5 times of the recommended fertilization rate at 20, 30, and 50 kPa irrigation while 0.5 or 1.0 times of fertilization rate resulted in the maximum yield in fall. Especially for 80 kPa irrigation in 2003 spring, yield was decreased by fertilization. It suggested that the optimum fertilization rate for lettuce is affected by soil moisture condition and that lower fertilization rate should be suggested when soil is managed in drier condition.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of rice husk (RHB) and food waste biochar (FWB) on upland soil with sandy loam texture, in terms of physico-chemical analysis, lettuce seed germination test, and orgainc carbon leaching experiment. RHB and FWB had different physico-chemical properties each other. Carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) of RHB was 32, showing two times higher than that of FWB. FWB had high salt and heavy metal content, compared to RHB. This is probably due to different ingredients and production processing between two biochars each other. Results of germination test with Lettuce showed lower germination rate when FWB was applied because of higher salt concentration compared to control and RHB. Organic carbon leaching test using saturated soil column (Φ75 × h75 mm) with 10 MT ha -1 biochar application rate, showed higher saturated hydraulic conductivity in rice husk biochar treatment column, compared to control and food waste biochar treatment. The highest total organic carbon concentration in column effluent was lower than those in both of rice husk biochar and food waste biochar, whereas the differences was negligible after 9 pore volumes of effluent. Consequently, biochars from byproducts such as rice husk and food waste in sandy loam textured upland soil could enhance a buffer function such as reduction of leaching from soil, but the harmful ingredient to crops such as high salt and heavy metals could limit the agricultural use of biochars.

This research was performed to test the hypothesis that the optimal fertilization rate for red pepper is changed by soil moisture condition. The experiment was conducted in rainfall-intercepted fields in Suwon, South Korea from 2002 to 2003. Soil was irrigated at 30, 50, or 80 kPa of soil moisture tension at 20 cm soil depth in 2002 and 30, 50, 100, or 150 kPa in 2003. For both years, fertilization was performed with four levels: none, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 times of the recommended N, P, and K fertilization rate. The irrigation amount was the greatest at 30 kPa irrigation while the water use efficiency increased with decrease of irrigation amount. The Irrigation amount was 508 mm at 30 kPa irrigation and ranged from 355 mm to 435 mm at 50 kPa irrigation. The maximum yield was found at 30 kPa irrigation and 1.5 times of the recommend fertilization rate in 2002 and 2003. The yield index of red pepper increased linearly with the fertilization rate at 30 kPa which implied that excess irrigation induced nutrient leaching and reduced nutrient availability. The maximum yield in 50 kPa and 80 kPa was found at the recommend fertilization rate while the yield decreased by fertilization at 100 kPa and 150 kPa irrigation. It implies that reduction of fertilization is the feasible practice to mitigate drought stress in fields without stable irrigation resources.

Farmers in highlands in South Korea pile up 20 to 30 cm of saprolites, mostly granite- or granitegneiss-weathered materials, on surface of arable lands every three to five years to compensate eroded soil and sometimes to discontinue soil-borne diseases. Immediate increases of infiltration and percolation rates are expected with coarse textured saprolites while soil drainage becomes poorer in a long-term. In this study, we analyzed mineralogical characteristics and micro-morphology of plow pan to investigate processes making impermeable layers. Soil samples were collected from plow pan, usually located at approximately 20 cm soil depth and at the lower part of piled saprolites, in arable lands in Hoenggye 5-ri, Daekwanryeong-myeon, Gangwon-do (N37.7, E128.7) in which saprolites were added 2, 4, and 8 years ago; saprolites were transported from similar areas. The saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased over time. Based on soil thin section pedography, quartz and feldspar accounted for a majority of minerals. The size of feldspar decreased and macropores became filled with clay or silt particles over time, which implies that macropores were packed with particles weathered from feldspar. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that intensity of feldspar decreased over time and the reverse was true for kaolinite and illite, indicating that feldspar and mica weathering induced formation of kaolinite and illite. Conclusively, deteriorated drainage by formation of impermeable layers in farms with piled saprolites was caused by accumulation of clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite in macropores; illite and kaolinite can be formed by weathering of mica and eldspar, respectively.

Weathering indexes of the typical pedons derived from different parent materials of the soils of Korea were calculated by Kronberg and Nesbitt (1981) to understand weathering degree of the soils which might give a clue of soil formation and characterizing a soil pedon. The weathering index W1 was chemical change index, and the weathering index W2 was silicate dominant index. The chemical compositions of the 49 typic pedons were extracted from the Taxonomical Classification of Korean Soils (NIAST, 1999). The weathering indexes of Kimhae series, derived from fluvio marine material, were the highest among the analyzed soils. Within parent materials, the weathering indexes of the soils derived from limestones parent materials were high, and those derived from phorphyry materials were low. The relationship between W1 and W2 showed unique pattern which implied certain sequence within the same parent materials.

pH buffer capacities (pHBC, cmol c kg - 1 pH -1 ) of 6 residual Entisols derived from granite, granite-gneiss, limestone, sandstone, shale, and basalt in Korea were studied. Soil acidity may become a problem if the soil pH is reduced to critical levels when nutrient cycles are unbalanced (especially N, C and S). The relation between the pHBC and the physico-chemical properties of the 6 soils was also studied. In the A horizons of all the soils except Euiseong series developed from sandstone, the contents of clay, organic matter and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were higher than those of C horizon, but bulk density and pH were lower than C horizon. Clay content of Euiseong series decreased with soil depth, which might be caused by the elluviation. The soils developed from granite, granite-gneiss and sandstone have a higher SiO₂content than those developed from basalt and limestone. The contents of Fe₂O₃ and MgO were high in the soils from developed from basalt, limestone and shale comparing with the soils from granite, granite-gneiss and sandstone. The soils from basalt and limestone showed higher values of ignition loss than those from the other parent rocks. The pHBC of the soils was ranged from 1.8 to 3.2 cmol c kg -1 pH -1 showing as follows : basalt, limestone > shale, granite-gneiss > granite sandstone.

The livestock manure is a good source of major plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and micronutrient that plants require. As aspect of establishment of nutrient management policy in nation scale, the use of livestock manure for agricultural purpose is a key factor for improving national nutrient balance. In this study, we evaluated the tendency of livestock manure production and amount of chemical fertilizer used in Korea from 1990 to 2011. The number of pig and chicken has been increased about two times in 2011 compared with 1990 and therefore livestock manure continually increased with the lapse of year, but cattle and dairy was not changed significantly. The chemical fertilizer consumption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium per hectare arable land was decreased by 54.6, 66.0 and 63.2% in 2011 compared with 1990, respectively. In contrast, the potential input of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to arable land through livestock manure was increased by 220, 210 and 210% during this period, respectively. Therefore we need a reasonable strategy for nutrient management such as combination of both manure and chemical fertilizers in near future.

In Soil Taxonomy system, anthropogenic soils are still classified as Entisols since the International Classification Committee for Anthropogenic Soils is in the process of classifying anthropogenic soils as new orders. In reality, it is difficult to characterize anthropogenic soils because Soil Taxonomy (ST) system does not distinguish between natural and anthropogenic Entisols. On the other hand, World Reference Base for soil resources (WRB) considers human impacts on soils and contains an independent category of anthropogenic soils, which makes easier to understand anthropogenic soil characteristics than Soil Taxonomy system. A remodeled paddy field (Gasan) was selected to classify by ST and WRB. Soil samples were taken to analyze chemical and physical properties. Based on the results of the analyses, the ST system classified Gasan as coarse loamy, mixed, mesic, Aquic Udorthents while the WRB did as Stagnic Urbic Technosols (Oxyaquic, Arenic). As a conclusion, the WRB classification information of the anthropogenic provides more detail characteristics of the anthropogenic soils.

Human influence on soil formation has dramatically increased as the development of human civilization and industry. Increase of anthropogenic soils induced research of those soils; classification, chemical and physical characteristics and plant growth of anthropogenic soils. However there have been no reports on soil pore properties from the anthropogenic soils so far. Therefore the objectives of this study were to test computer tomography (CT) to characterize physical properties of an anthropogenic paddy field soil and to find differences between natural and anthropogenic paddy field soils. Soil samples of a natural paddy field were taken from Ansung, Gyeonggi-do (Ansung site), and samples of an anthropogenic paddy field were from Gumi in Gyeongsangnam-do (Gasan) where paddy fields were remodeled in 2011-2012. Samples were taken at three different depths and analyzed for routine physical properties and CT scans. CT scan provided 3 dimensional images to calculate pore size, length and tortuosity of soil pores. Fractal analysis was applied to quantify pore structure within soil images. The results of measured physical properties (bulk density, porosity) did not show differences across depths and sites, but hardness and water content had differences. These differences repeated within the results of pore morphology. Top soil samples from both sites had greater pore numbers and sizes than others. Fractal analyses showed that top soils had more heterogeneous pore structures than others. The bottom layer of the Gasan site showed more degradation of pore properties than ploughpan and bottom layers from the Ansung site. These results concluded that anthropogenic soils may have more degraded pore properties as depth increases. The remodeled paddy fields may need more fundamental remediation to improve physical conditions. This study suggests that pore analyses using CT can provide important information of physical conditions from anthropogenic soils.

Soil compaction is affected by soil texture, organic matter (OM), strength (ST) and soil moisture, which is difficult to understand the degree and effects of related factors. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of them on the compaction with bulk density (BD). The analysis was conducted with data collected from national-wide monitoring sites including 105 upland soils, 246 orchard soils, and 408 paddy soils between 2009 and 2012. The distributions of soil physical properties were measured. The correlation and multi linear regression analysis were performed between soil physical properties using SAS. The regression equation of BD(y) includes ST, gravitational water contents (GWC), and OM as variables commonly, having additional factors, clay content and sand content in paddy soil and upland soil for only subsoil (p

Most test methods for plant available soil phosphate are based on the extraction with a chemical solution. The objective of this study is to evaluate available phosphate of various tests at different soil phosphate levels. Two experiments were conducted as follows: i) Extracting capacities of soil phosphate tests - Mehlich III, Mehlich II, Bray I, Olsen, Kelowna, and Modified Lancaster(Mod. Lancaster) - were compared with that of Lancaster test for the soils collected from 32 paddy and 27 upland fields with various soil chemical properties. ii) Field trials on comparing to phosphate uptake by plant were accomplished by cultivating rice and corn plants in the pots filled with the soils. Available phosphate of Lancaster test was significantly correlated with those of Mehlich III, Mehlich II, Bray I, Olsen, Kelowna, and Mod. Lancaster. In upland soils, available phosphates of all the tests were curvilinearly regressed with phosphate uptake by corn. The determination coefficients (R²) of the regression equation between available phosphate in soils and phosphate uptake by plants were ranged from 0.861 (Mehlich III) to 0.741 (Olsen). In paddy soils, the available phosphate measured by Mehlich III and Lancaster was significantly correlated with phosphate uptake by rice. In conclusion, Lancaster and Mehlich III tests could be used for predicting available phosphate in upland and paddy soils.

Acid sulfate soil (ASS) and potential acid sulfate soil (PASS) are distribution in worldwide and originate from sedimentary process, volcanic activity, or metamorphism and are problematic in agriculture and environmental due to their present and potential acidity developed by the oxidation. The PASS was defined as soil materials that had sulfidic layer more than 20 cm thick within 4 m of the soil profile and contained more than 0.15% of total-sulfur (T-S). A tentative interpretative soil classification system was proposed weak potential acid sulfate (T-S, 0.15-0.5%), moderate potential acid sulfate (T-S, 0.5-0.75%) and strong potential acid sulfate (T-S, more than 0.75%). PASS due to excess of pyrite over soil neutralizing capacity are formed. It provides no information on the kinetic rates of acid generation or neutralization; therefore, the test procedures used in acid base account (ABA) are referred to as static procedures. The net acid generation (NAG) test is a direct method to measure the ability of the sample to produce acid through sulfide oxidation and also provides and indication. The NAG test can evaluated easily whether the soils is PASS. The samples are mixed sandy loam and the PAS from the hydrothermal altered andesite (1:3, 1:8, 1:16, 1:20, 1:40, 1:80 and 1:200 ratios) in this study. We could find out that the NAG pH of the soil containing 0.75% of T-S was 2.5, and that of the soil has 0.15% of T-S was 3.8. NAG pH test can be proposed as soil classification criteria for the potential acid sulfate soils. The strong type has NAG pH of 2.5, the moderate one has NAG pH of 3.0, and the weak one has NAG pH of 3.5.

The identification of effective root zone would clarify dynamics of plant available water and soil water balance. Using the relationship between soil properties and electrical resistivity (ER) the purpose of this research is to identify soil zone affected by a plant root activity using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique. Four plastic containers were prepared for two different soil textures (clay and sandy loam) and one container for each texture was selected for planting four corn seedlings (Zea mays L.) and the others were prepared for the blank. For ERT monitoring, we prepared 0.8 m plastic sticks with 17 electrodes installed with 5 cm space. The Ministing (AGI Inc., Texas) instrument for electrical resistivity measurement and semi-auto converter of electrode arrangement were set up for dipole-dipole array. During 2 months of the corns growing, ERT monitoring was made 3 to 4 days after the irrigation practice. Despite of the same amount water supplied into soils, two textures showed very different apparent resistivity values due to different clay content. The apparent electrical resistivity is consistently lower in clay loam comparing to sandy loam soil implying that plant root does not significantly alter the overall trend of resistivity. When plant root system, however, is active both soils with plants showed 2-7 times higher electrical resistivity and higher coefficient variation than soils without plant, implying the effect of root system on the resistivity, in which may caused by . This result suggests plant root activities regulating the soil water dynamics mainly control the variation of electrical resistivity over soil textural difference. Therefore the identification of water uptake zone would highly be correlated to plant root activities, thus ERT will be feasible approach to identify spatial characteristics of a plant root activity.

Soil pan typically presents the problems in soil water movement or in aeration which is not appropriate for a plant root growth, In this study physico-chemical characteristics of soils and micromorphological characteristic of clay accumulated zone were investigated to identify redox characteristic and evolution of a fragipan of Gangreung series commonly developed in coastal terraces. Gangreung series is classified as Aquic Fragiudalfs according to the USDA soil taxonomy. It is known that sedimentary ocean floor results in soil pan having parallel liner soil structure due to landscape evolution around 200 to 250 million years ago. it is considered that illite, kaolinite, and vermiculite are major clay minerals contained in a fragipan of Gangreung series. Mixed gray and reddish brown colored band around soil pores was found and would be the redoxmorphic features of fragipan. It is possibly due to accumulated illuvial clay and ferriargillans in soil pores and aggregates in reducing conditions eluding ferrous material. Therefore, mixed colored band around pores in soils of Gangreung series would be developed from the eluted ferrous materials which were accumulated in fragipan during the emerged land formation.

This study was performed to produce basic data for silty reclaimed tidal lands and to develop techniques of environmentally-friendly utilization in agricultural system. We chose the two sites in Saemangeum reclaimed tidal lands, one (Site Ⅰ) has been treated with cultivating green manure and conducting the desalinization process through submergence since April, 2007 and the other (Site Ⅱ) has been under natural condition without artificial treatment. In situ and ex situ physic-chemical properties were determined and comparisons were made for soil profiles examined at these two sites in April 2009. Surface soil of Site Ⅰ had lower EC and higher field saturated hydraulic conductivity than those of Site Ⅱ, uncultivated land. Especially, exchangeable sodium content was lowest in Site Ⅰ Ap1 layer than in other layers. This is probably due to flooding desalination and green manure cultivation. Besides, Ap1 and A2 layers of soil profile in Site Ⅰ showed brighter soil color and more root observation than those of Site Ⅱ. This is probably due to green manure cultivation. By the large, for high cash upland crops and intensive agricultural use of silty reclaimed tidal land, site-specific soil ripening such as flooding desalination and green manure cultivation could be useful.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of various inorganic and organic materials to improve physical properties of soil. Saline sodic soil (saturation percentage = 40.36%, EC e = 5.15 dS m ?1 , pH 8 = 8.70, SAR = 18.84 (m mol L ?1 ) 1/2 , bulk density = 1.49 Mg m ?3 ) was collected, brought to wire house and filled in pots after laboratory analysis for various parameters. Different sources of organic nutrients like farm manure (FM), press mud, compost, poultry manure and sesbania green manure were analyzed for their chemical composition. The experiment comprised of 12 treatments replicated thrice; T 1 : control (recommended NPK), T 2 :½ recommended NPK, T 3 : FM at 1.5% by soil weight, T 4 : pressmud at 1.5% by soil weight, T 5 : compost at 1.5% by soil weight, T 6 : poultry manure at 1.5% by soil weight, T 7 : sesbania green manure at 1.5% by soil weight, T 8 : T 2 + FM at 0.75% by soil weight, T 9 : T 2 + pressmud at 0.75% by soil weight, T 10 : T 2 + compost at 0.75% by soil weight, T 11 : T 2 + poultry manure at 0.75% by soil weight, T 12 : T 2 + sesbania green manure at 0.75% by soil weight. These treatments were applied using completely randomized (CR) design and appropriate time was given to decompose these organic nutritional sources. Seeds of wheat cultivar Sahar-2006 were sown. After harvesting the wheat, soil samples were collected from each pot and analyzed for various physical properties like bulk density, porosity and saturation percentage. An improvement in physical properties (bulk density, porosity and saturation percentage) of soil was noticed with the application of various organic nutritional sources but role of compost alone (T 5 ) remained prominent.

This study was carried out to investigate the surface soil organic carbon fractions affecting by different land use types, including needle-leaf forest (FN), broad-leaf forest (FB), pasture, annual upland cropping land (upland), and paddy rice land (paddy). We chose seven regions across Korean inland, considering sea level altitude, and measured soil organic carbon content and physico-chemical properties such as bulk density at a depth of 0~15 cm using core samples in April for the each land use type. In addition, labile organic carbon fractions in soil including light fraction and hot water extractable carbon were investigated. From this study, organic carbon storage (Mg C per ha) in the upper 15-cm soils was highest in FB (37.8), and decreased in the order of pasture (29.1), FN (28.8), paddy (21.9), and upland crop (19.9). In forest, more than 20% of soil organic carbon existed as light fraction, the free organic matter. Hot-water extractable carbon contents of soils in five land use types were lower than 7% of their soil organic carbon content.

Strip tiller equipment was developed to reduce soil erosion in the slope land for highland agricultural area. The equipment consisted of 4 rows strip tillage device and fertilizer applicator. The field was tilled in 10 cm width and in 10 cm depth by the equipment, of which tilled surface was 16.7% of full-width tillage. The working time and fuel consumption of the equipment were 3.8 hours ha -1 and 24.4 L ha -1 respectively, which were 59% and 74% less than those of the conventional tillage. Fertilizer efficiency of the equipment in cultivation of Chinese cabbage was 1.7, 1.6 and 1.5 times higher in nitrate, phosphorous and potassium respectively, than conventional tillage. When the equipment was used after covering of rye residue, the quantity of runoff was 49～67% lower than the conventional tillage. And the quantity of soil loss were 1.3 and 0.2 Mg ha -1 at right after and 30 days after planting of Chinese cabbage respectively, while 11.5 and 4.1 Mg ha -1 in conventional tillage. In conclusion, the strip tillage equipment developed in this study can be applicable to slope land, so that soil loss of 90% can be reduced.

The changes of available silicate (Avail. ) contents in paddy soils (sandy loam) were assessed from data of the 41 years fertilization plots in which the continuous rice cropping experiment started in 1954 at the National Academy of Agricultural Science. The treatments were no fertilization (O), inorganic fertilization (NPK), inorganic fertilizer plus rice straw compost (NPK+C), inorganic fertilizer plus silicate fertilizer as a soil amendment (NPK+S), inorganic fertilizer plus rice straw compost and silicate fertilizer (NPK+CS) and inorganic fertilizer plus rice straw compost, silicate fertilizer and lime (NPK+CSL). Available silicate contents in NPK+S, NPK+CS and NPK in surface soil reached at the highest content () after 41 years and then levelled off. Available silicate contents in subsurface soil (25~30 cm) were higher in NPK+C and NPK+S treatments than those in other treatments. Continuous application of silicate fertilizer affected significantly on the levels of available silicate in surface and subsurface soils. Silicate uptake of top rice was more increased by 98% in NPK+CS and NPK+CSL over NPK. Grain yield also increased by 37~47% in NPK+CS and NPK+CSL as compared to NPK. The combined applications of inorganic fertilizers with silicate as a soil amendment are recommended as the best fertilization practice for fertilizer use efficiency, enhancement of soil fertility status in the continuous rice cropping system in Korea.

The river-bed sediments from the major river basins were analysed for the chemical and physical properties to evaluate environmental safety for the agricultural uses. The samples were taken from 16 sites of Han river, 36 of Geumgang river, 27 of Yeongsan river, and 140 of Nakdong river. The total of 219 samples from the 28 counties were taken from the surface of the sediments at the depth of 50 cm. The particle density of the sediments was greater than 2.63 Mg m -3 and the whole range of the density was 2.60∼2.69 Mg m -3 , the average particle size was 0.7 mm whereas the size range was 0.075∼0.85 mm. The analyses of the particle sizes by basins showed that Han and Geumgang river had particle sizes of 0.075∼0.85 mm, while Geumgang and Yeongsan river had particle sizes of 0.25∼0.85 mm. Geumgang and Yeongsan river tended to have greater particle sizes. The average values of the chemical properties were 6.3 for pH, 0.16 dS m -1 for EC, 8 g kg -1 for organic matter, 101 mg kg -1 for available phosphate, 0.39, 3.47, and 0.93 cmolc kg -1 for exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium respectively. The greatest property at each basin was pH for Han river, Ec, available phosphate and exchangeable sodium for Geumgang river, organic matter, exchangeable calcium and magnesium for Yeongsan river, and exchangeable potassium for Nakdong river.

This study was carry out on a Jang-Won series (fine loam y, mixed, mesic family of typic fragipan) that were established and classified as a fragipan soil in Korea. The morphological, physical, chemical and minerals characteristics of Jang-Won series were studied to determine the genesis of fragipan soils in natural environment. Each sample was analyzed for its physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics. The particle size distribution of samples was measured using pipette method. Clay minerals were investigated on parallel-oriented specimens of the clay fraction (

Salt-affected soils are present in Pakistan in significant quantity. This experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of compost for reclamation and compare its efficiency with gypsum. For this purpose, various combinations of compost and gypsum were used to evaluate their efficacy for reclamation. A saline-sodic field having pH s 8.90, EC e 5.94 dS m ?1 and SAR 34.5 (mmol L ?1 ) 1/2 , SP (saturation percentage) 42.29% and texture Sandy clay loam, gypsum requirement (GR) 8.75 Mg ha ?1 was selected for this study. The experiment comprised of seven treatments (control, gypsum alone, compost alone and different combinations of compost and gypsum based on soil gypsum requirements). Inorganic and organic amendments (gypsum and compost) were applied to a saline sodic soil. Rice and wheat crops were grown. Soil samples were collected from each treatment after the harvest of both crops and analyzed for chemical properties (electrical conductivity, soil reaction and sodium adsorption ratio) and fertility status (organic matter, available phosphorus and potassium contents) of soil. Results of this study revealed that compost and gypsum improved chemical properties (electrical conductivity, soil reaction and sodium adsorption ratio) of saline sodic soil to the desired levels. Similarly, all parameters of soil fertility like organic matter, available phosphorus and potassium contents were built up with the application of compost and gypsum.