Sang-Keun Ha

Metabolomic profiling from leaves and roots of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants grown under nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium-deficient condition.

Specific metabolic network responses to mineral deficiencies are not well-defined. Here, we conducted a detailed broad-scale identification of metabolic responses of tomato leaves and roots to N, P or K deficiency. Tomato plants were grown hydroponically under optimal (5mM N, 0.5mM P, or 5mM K) and deficient (0.5mM N, 0.05mM P, or 0.5mM K) conditions and metabolites were measured by LC-MS and GC-MS. Based on these results, deficiency of any of these three minerals affected energy production and amino acid metabolism. N deficiency generally led to decreased amino acids and organic acids, and increased soluble sugars. P deficiency resulted in increased amino acids and organic acids in roots, and decreased soluble sugars. K deficiency caused accumulation of soluble sugars and amino acids in roots, and decreased organic acids and amino acids in leaves. Notable metabolic pathway alterations included; (1) increased levels of α-ketoglutarate and raffinose family oligosaccharides in N, P or K-deficient tomato roots, and (2) increased putrescine in K-deficient roots. These findings provide new knowledge of metabolic changes in response to mineral deficiencies.

Impacts of Chemical Properties on Microbial Population from Upland Soils in Gyeongnam Province

Soil management for environment-friendly agriculture depends on the effects of soil microbial activities and soil fertility. To improve soil health for the upland crops, this study evaluated a relationship between soil chemical properties and soil microbial diversities at 25 sites in upland soils in Gyeongnam Province. The average nutrients in the upland soils were 1.7 times for available phosphorous, 1.4 times for exchangeable potassium and 1.5 times for exchangeable calcium higher compared to recommend concentrations in the upland soils. We found a significant positive correlation between the soil organic matter and the soil microbial biomass C (p

Effect of Suboptimal Nutritional Status on Mineral Uptake and Carbohydrate Metabolism in Tomato Plants

A suitable supply of mineral elements into shoot via a root system from growth media makes plants favorable growth and yield. The shortage or surplus of minerals directly affects overall physiological reactions to plants and, especially, strongly influences carbohydrate metabolism as a primary response. We have studied mineral uptake and synthesis and translocation of soluble carbohydrates in N, P or K-deficient tomato plants, and examined the interaction between soluble carbohydrates and mineral elements. Four-weeks-old tomato plants were grown in a hydroponic growth container adjusted with suboptimal N (0.5 mmol L -1 Ca(NO₃)₂ㆍ4H₂O and 0.5 mmol L-1 KNO₃), P (0.05 mmol L -1 KH₂PO₄), and K (0.5 mmol L -1 KNO₃) for 30 days. The deficiency of specific mineral element led to a significant decrease in its concentration and affected the concentration of other elements with increasing treatment period. The appearance of the reduction, however, differed slightly between elements. The ratios of N uptake of each treatment to that in NPK sufficient tomato shoots were 4 (N deficient), 50 (P deficient), and 50% (K deficient). The P uptake ratios were 21 (N deficient), 19 (P deficient), and 28% (K deficient) and K uptake ratios were 11 (N deficient), 46 (P deficient), and 7% (K deficient). The deficiency of mineral elements also influenced on carbohydrate metabolism; soluble sugar and starch was substantially enhanced, especially in N or K deficiency. In conclusion, mineral deficiency leads to an adverse carbohydrate metabolism such as immoderate accumulation and restricted translocation as well as reduced mineral uptake and thus results in the reduced plant growth.

Impacts of Topography on Microbial Community from Upland Soils in Gyeongnam Province

The present study evaluated the soil microbial communities by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in upland soils at 25 sites in Gyeongnam Province. The total bacteria content was for in inclined piedmont, for fan and valley, for hill areas, and for riversider plain. The fungi content was 2.4 times higher in sandy loam than in silt loam (p

Rice Yield and Changes of Available Silicate in Paddy Soils from Long-term Application of Chemical Fertilizers and Soil Amendments

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.

Effect of Compost and Gypsum Application on the Chemical Properties and Fertility Status of Saline-Sodic Soil

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.

Understanding of a Korean Standard for the Analysis of Hexavalent Chromium in Soils and Interpretation of their Results

A new Korean standard for the determination of Cr(VI) in soils has been officially published as ES 07408.1 in 2009. This analytical method is based on the hot alkaline digestion and colorimetric detection prescribed by U.S. EPA method 3060A and 7196A. The hot alkaline digestion accomplished using 0.28 M and 0.5 M NaOH solution (pH 13.4) at determines total Cr(VI) in soils extracting all forms of Cr(VI), including water-soluble, adsorbed, precipitated, and mineral-bound chromates. This aggressive alkaline digestion, however, proved to be problematic for certain soils which contain large amounts of soluble humic substances or active manganese oxides. Cr(III) could be oxidized to Cr(VI) by manganese oxides during the strong alkaline extraction, resulting in overestimation (positive error) of Cr(VI). In contrast, Cr(VI) reduction by dissolved humic matter or Fe(II) could occur during the neutralization and acidic colorimetric detection procedure, resulting in underestimation (negative error) of Cr(VI). Futhermore, dissolved humic matter hampered the colorimetric detection of Cr(VI) using UV/Vis spectrophotometer due to the strong coloration of the filtrate, resulting in overestimation (positive error) of Cr(VI). Without understanding the mechanisms of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) transformation during the analysis it could be difficult to operate the experiment in laboratory and to evaluate the Cr(VI) results. For this reason, in this paper we described the theoretical principles and limitations of Cr(VI) analysis and provided useful guidelines for laboratory work and Cr(VI) data analysis.

Effects of Reclaimed Wastewater and Waste Nutrient Solution Irrigation on Seedling Growth of Chinese Cabbage

ABSTRACT: Water shortages are expected to be a major impact of climate change. This study examined the growth of Chinese cabbage seedling using reclaimed wastewater and waste nutrient solution as alternative irrigation resources. Generally, the concentration of nutrients, such as K + , NH 4+ , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl - , NO 3- , PO 4- and SO 42- , in waste nutrient solution was higher than that in wastewater. However, Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with wastewater was supplied a higher concentration of Na + and Cl - than waste nutrient solution. The growth of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution was similar or higher than those irrigated with groundwater as control, while the growth of those irrigated with wastewater was similar to those irrigated with groundwater. The total nitrogen uptake in Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with groundwater, waste nutrient solution from organic and inorganic hydroponic cultures, and wastewater was 5.47, 10.02, 5.20, and 4.59 mg/plant, respectively. The nitrogen uptake of Chinese cabbage seedling irrigated with waste nutrient solution from organic hydroponic substrates in a 50% lower dose than recommended was 8.34 mg/plant, which is higher than that of the cabbage irrigated with groundwater. Overall, the results suggest that waste nutrient solution and wastewater can be used as alternate water resources, and can allow a reduction in the amount of fertilizer needed to raise Chinese cabbage seedling.Key Words:

The Relation between Fertilization Practices and Functional Metabolites of Crops: A Review

Various researches on the effects of fertilization levels on functional metabolites in crop have been conducted. This review summarizes the previous studies on the relation between fertilization supply and accumulation of metabolites (phenolics, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and glucosinolates) which function as antioxidants in crop. The accumulation of phenolic compounds is related to the activation of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) in phenylpropanoid pathway. Most of the previous studies discuss that low nitrogen (N) supply activates PAL, thereby increasing the synthesis of phenolics. Similarly, high N supply leads to a decrease in ascorbic acid because of the shading effect derived from the accelerated vegetative growth under high N level. Unlike the phenolics and ascorbic acid, carotenoids are accumulated with increasing N supply. In this regard, the previous studies explain that N is a main element closely associated with formation of key enzyme for the synthesis of carotenoids. Glucosinolates are generally increased under decreasing N supply and increasing S supply. Although the previous studies show similar trends about the accumulation of metabolites by nutrient level, they also suggest that many other factors including crop types, cultivars, cultural environment (water, temperature, light, etc.) influence the accumulation of functional metabolites in crop.

Hydraulic Characteristics of Mountainous Forest Soils in Korea and Applicability of Pedotransfer Functions

Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed for each soil horizon to estimate hydraulic characteristics of mountainous forest soils in South Korea. Twenty one dominant soil series from 8 soil catenae such as granite-originated catena and volcanic ash-originated catena were selected for the study; gravel contents of selected soils were 10% or lower. Saturated conductivity (Ks) was measured for each horizon in situ. Particle size distribution and organic matter content of each horizon were also determined. Based on correlation analysis with total data set, sand separate showed positive relationship with Ks (r=0.24 * ) while clay separate had negative relationship with Ks (r=-0.29 ** ). The correlation coefficients of sand, clay, and organic matter content with Ks increased to 0.41 ** , -0.67 *** , and 0.58 *** , respectively, using data from granite- or gneiss-originated catena with exception of volcanic ash-originated catena and sedimentary rock-originated catena. Determination coefficients of PTFs were 0.31 for A horizon, 0.25 for B, and 0.35 for C with all data set while those were 0.74 for A, 0.48 for B, and 0.54 for C. Organic matter was a dominant factor affecting Ks in A horizon but clay content was selected as the only factor influencing Ks in C horizon. It implies that PTFs should be developed with understanding characteristics of parent materials and horizons. Developed PTFs for granite- or gneiss-originated catena were following: A horizon: Log (K s x 10 7 ) = -0.031C + 0.398OM + 3.49 B horizon: Log (K s x 10 7 ) = -0.028C + 0.141OM + 4.05 C horizon: Log (K s x 10 7 ) = -0.072C + 4.66 where C is clay separate (%) and OM is organic matter content (g kg -1 ). The unit of Ks is cm sec -1 .