Soon-Ik Kwon

Estimation of Biomass Resource Conversion Factor and Potential Production in Agricultural Sector

BACKGROUND: Currently, national biomass inventory are being established for efficient management of the potential energy sources. Among the various types of biomass, agricultural wastes are considered to take the biggest portion of the total annual biomass generated in Korea, implying its importance. However, the currently estimated amount is not reliable because the old reference data are still used to estimate total annual amount of agricultural wastes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Therefore, to provide reliable estimation data, a correct conversion factor obtained by taking into account the current situation is required. For this, the current study was conducted to provide the conversion factors for each representative 8 crop through a field cultivation study. Also conversion factors for 18 crops were calculated using the average amount of each crop produced during 2004 and 2008, subsequently; total amount of agricultural wastes generated in 2009 was estimated using these conversion factors. The total biomass of rice straw and rice husk generated in 2009 were 6.5 and 1.1 million tons, respectively, which consist 75% of the total agricultural based wastes, while the total biomass of pepper shoots and apple pruning twigs were 1.0 and 0.6 million tons, respectively. Despite the high amount of rice-based biomass, their applicability for bio-energy production is low due to conventional utilization of these materials for animal feeds and beds for animal husbandry. In addition to exact estimation of the total biomass, temporal variations in both generated amount and the type of agricultural biomass materials are also important for efficient utilization; fruit pruning twigs (January to March); barley-, been-, and mustard-related waste materials (April to June); rice-related waste (September to October). CONCLUSION(s): Such information provided in this study can be used to establish a master plan for efficient utilization of the agricultural wastes on purpose of bio-energy production.

Small-Scale Pond Effects on Reducing Pollutants Load from a Paddy Field

BACKGROUND: Water-born pollution loads by agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution are expected to become intensified due to ongoing precipitation change. Therefore, it is essential to develop a best management practice (BMP) that is suitable to agricultural environments in Korea. This study aimed to develop an environmental-friendly BMP to reduce NPS pollution load by agricultural activities. An eco-friendly way, small drainage pond, was suggested in this study to avoid direct drainage of agricultural runoffs and eventually reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the surrounding aqua-environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: A small pond (12 m 2 ) was constructed at the corner of a rice paddy field (1,715 m 2 ) located in Suwon, Korea. Water was allowed to drain only via a small drainage pond. Sampling was repeatedly made at two locations, one from an entrance and the other from an exit of a pond, during the rice cultivation period (May to

Contamination Assessment of Water Quality and Stream Sediments Affected by Mine Drainage in the Sambo Mine Creek

BACKGROUND: Mine drainage from metal mining districts is a well-recognized source of environmental contamination. Oxidation of metal sulfides in mines, mine dumps and tailing impoundments produces acidic, metal-rich waters that can contaminate the local surface water and soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was carried out to investigate the pollution assessment of heavy metal on the water quality of mine drainage, paddy soils and sediment in lower watershed affected by mine drainage of the Sambo mine. The average concentrations of dissolved Cd (0.018∼0.035 mg/L) in mine drainage discharged from the main waste rock dumps(WRD) was higher than the water quality standards (0.01 mg/L) for agricultural water in Korea. Also, the average concentrations of dissolved Zn, Fe and Mn were higher than those of recommended maximum concentrations (Zn 2.0, Fe 5.0, Mn 0.2 mg/L) of trace metal in irrigation water proposed by FAO (1994). The average contents of Pb and Zn in paddy soils was higher than those of standard level for soil contamination(Pb 200, Zn 300 mg/kg) in agricultural soil by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. Also, the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in sediment were higher than those of standard level for soil contamination (Cd 10, Pb 400, Zn 600 mg/L) in waterway soil by Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. The enrichment factor (EFc) of heavy metals in stream sediments were in the order as Cd>Pb>Zn> As>Cu>Cr>Ni. Also, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of heavy metals in stream sediments were in the order as Zn>Cd>Pb>Cu>As>Cr>Ni, specially, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of Zn (Igeo 3.1∼6.2) were relatively higher than that of other metals in sediment. CONCLUSION(s): The results indicate that stream water and sediment were affected by mine drainage discharged from the Sambo mine at least to a distance of 1 km downstream (SN-1, SN-2) of the mine water discharge point.

Study on Characteristics of Biogas Production and Liquid Fertilizer with Anaerobic Co digestion of Livestock Manure and Food Waste

Objective of this research was to investigate the characteristics of biogas production in anaerobic digestion reactor with different mixing ratio of food waste and swine manure. It was observed that the highest removal efficiency of organic material was 80% at 60 : 40 of mixing ratio (livestock manure : food waste). And also biogas yield was varied due to different mixing ratio of them. The cumulative biogas yield was highest at 60 : 40 of mixing rate (livestock manure : food waste). For use of the liquefied fertilizer as effluent from anaerobic digester, it was the limited ratio for 30% of co-digested food waste based on its salt content.

The Effect of Application Levels of Slurry Composting and Bio-filtration Liquid Fertilizer on Soil Chemical Properties and Growth of Radish and Corn

A liquid fertilizer treated with slurry composting and biofiltration (SCB) process has been applied increasingly on agricultural field but the effects on the soil properties and crop production has not been throughly evaluated. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the SCB application on soil chemical properties and the growth of radish and corn. SCB liquid fertilizer as a basal fertilization was treated with five levels based on for radish and for corn. The experimental design was the completely randomized block design with five levels and three replicates. Electrical conductivity (EC), -N, Exch. K and Exch. Na increased depending on the treatment levels of SCB. There were no changes in soil organic matter, Avail. , Exch. Ca and Exch. Mg. EC, -N and Exch. Na content decreased as precipitation increased. Especially, they decreased up to the initial condition before the treatment after the heavy rainy season in 2008. Although Exch. K decreased at the rainy season, they remained relatively higher content after the experiment on August, 2008. Fresh weight and the amount of N uptake of radish increased due to the levels of SCB, but corn did not present any significant increase. It is recommended that we need to decide the proper amount of SCB as well as the application method on the field to increase the productivity and decrease environmental stress. Additional experiments also need to clarify the effect of the trace element and heavy metal accumulations due to long term application of SCB.

Lead Induced Organic Acid Exudation and Citrate Enhanced Pb Uptake in Hydroponic System

The influence of Pb-citrate complex formation on Pb uptake and the effect of Pb on organic acid exudation were investigated using four plant species, viz., sunflower (Helianthus annuus L), Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), canola (Brassica napus) and vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) under hydroponic conditions. Seedlings were exposed to different levels of Pb and Pb-citrate for 24 hrs and subsequently Pb distributions in plant shoot, root and hydroponic solution were measured. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration generally decreased as the concentration of Pb in the hydroponic solution increased. In contrast to DOC, the total organic acid concentrations exuded from Indian mustard roots significantly increased (424 to 6656 mg kg -1 ) with increased Pb treatment, implying that exuding organic acids were involved in Pb accumulation in Indian mustard. The complexation of Pb with citrate enhanced Pb accumulation in the above ground portions. Lead concentration in Indian mustard increased from 2.05 mg kg -1 to 6.42 mg kg -1 when the concentration of citrate in solution increased from 0 to 50 mg L -1 . This result showed enhanced translocation of Pb from root to shoot with observation of transfer coefficient (Kt) increase from 2.03E-3 to 5.72E-3.

Minimizing Nutrient Loading from SCB Treated Paddy Rice Fields through Water Management

This study was conducted to establish the BMPs (Best Management Practices) for preventing pollutant loadings from paddy rice field applied livestock liquid manure from 2008 through 2011. Cultivated paddy rice fields (Gyeonggi province, Korea) were treated with SCB (Slurry composting and bio-filtration process) liquid fertilizer. The BMPs for paddy rice field developed in this study includes: 1) the controlling a drainage water gate in paddy rice field from right after SCB liquid fertilizer application to 3 weeks after rice transplanting; 2) livestock liquid fertilizer application to paddy rice soils in 20 days before rice transplanting to encourage the utilization of liquid fertilizer; 3) preservation of surface water depth to 5 cm in a paddy field right after SCB liquid fertilizer applied to minimize a water pollution and enhance the utilization of liquid fertilizer; and 4) blocking a water gate at least for 2 days to inactivate E. coli survival. The findings of this study will provide useful and practical guideline to applicators of agricultural soil in deciding appropriate handling and time frames for preventing pollution of water quality for sustainable agriculture.

Changes of Soil Properties in Corn (Zea mays L.) Fields Treated with Compost and Liquid Fertilizer

A wide diversity of liquid fertilizers and composts produced from the livestock manure in Korea is commonly applied to agricultural lands as an alternative of chemical fertilizers. However, their effects on the crop production and environmental impacts are still vague. The current study was conducted to understand the effects of the pig manure-based liquid fertilizer on the growth of Zea mays L. and soil properties. Four different liquid fertilizers were treated to each cultivated upland plot located in Gyeong-gi province, Korea while no fertilizer (control A) and a chemical fertilizer (control B) were treated to separate plots for comparison. The liquid fertilizer treatment did not make a significant difference in the fresh weight of Zea mays L. compared to the controls. This is probably due to the nutrient residues carried over from the last year fertilization. Electric conductivity (EC) and organic matter contents in soils were increased right after the liquid fertilizer treatments compared to the controls. However, soil pH was maintained as the same as the level of control A. A long-term effect of the continuous treatment of the manure based liquid fertilizer will be carried out in the successive study.

Wet Deposition of Heavy Metals during Farming Season in Taean, Korea

BACKGROUND: This experiment was conducted to investigate the distribution and burden characteristics of heavy metal in the rainwater sampled at Taean area, in the middle part of Korea, from April 2002 to October 2003. METHODS AND RESULTS: The relationship between concentration of heavy metal and other chemical properties in the rainwaters was also evaluated. Chemical properties in the rainwater were various differences with raining periods and years. It appeared that a weighted average pH values of rainwater was ranged from 5.0 to 5.1. Heavy metal con- centrations in the rainwater were ranked as Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > As > Cr > Cd. As compared with heavy metal con- centrations of rainwater in 2002, Cu, Pb, and Zn were higher than other elements in 2003. There were positive corre- lation between major ionic components, such as NH4 + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , Na + , SO4 2- and NO3 - , and As, Cd, Zn, Cr, and Ni concentrations in rainwater. For heavy metal distribution of rainwater, the order of average enrichment factor was Cd > Pb > As > Cu > Zn > Ni > Cr, and these were relatively higher than the natural components such as Fe, Mg and Ca. The monthly enrichment factor were relatively high, from August to October at Taean. The monthly amount of heavy metal precipitation was high in the rainy season from July to August because of great influence of rainfall. CONCLUSION(s): The results of this study suggest that the heavy metals(Cd, Pb, As, Cu, and Zn) of rainwater is strongly influenced by anthropogenic sources rather than natural sources.

Toxicity Assessment of the Soil by Bioassay Following a Long-Term Application of Sewage Sludge

Bioassay was employed to assess toxicity of soil which had been treated with sewage sludges for seven years. The and root elongation test of lettuce (Lactuca Sativa.) elucidated that the intensity of soil toxicity was closely related with the types and amount of sewage sludges applied. Both bioassay methods proved to be useful in an assessment of soil toxicity and were consistent to some extent with the conventional chemical analysis methods. values resulted from were highly correlated with concentration of heavy metals in soils amended with sewage sludges : Cu (), Cr (), Ni (), and Zn (). This demonstrated that both bioassay techniques could be employed as tools for soil toxicity assessment when the soil was exposed to solid wastes such as sewage sludge.