Yong-Hee Moon

Implication of Soil Minerals on Formation of Impermeable Layers in Saprolite Surface-Piled Upland Fields at Highland

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.

Effective utilization of incinerated municipal solid waste incineration ash: zeolitic material synthesis and silica extraction.

In this study the effective utilization of two types of municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) ashes, namely air-cooled ash (ACS) and water-cooled ash (WCS) samples obtained from a municipal solid waste incineration plant, was examined by applying zeolitic material synthesis and silica extraction. The influence of the experimental conditions including the ratio of sample : NaOH solution, the reaction temperature and time, and the concentration of NaOH solution were investigated. The results for the 25 experimental trials can be summarized as: (1) the formation of tobermorite and/or pectolite-1A as a major component in most conditions; (2) the synthesis of hydroxycancrinite as a major phase at 200 °C; (3) a dramatic increase in the extracted SiO2 yield at 1 : 30 value of sample : NaOH ratio and 200 °C, even at short reaction times; and (4) relatively high SiO2 yields for WCS ashes rather than ACS ashes. An increase in the reaction time improved the quantity of synthesized zeolitic materials. The reaction temperature determined the type of zeolite. An increase in the NaOH concentration can be an essential factor to improve zeolitic material synthesis, but it significantly reduced the yield of SiO2 extraction. In conclusion, suitable conditions for obtaining both SiO2 extraction and synthesized zeolites from the ashes of the incinerated solid waste materials should be: 200 °C reaction temperature; a 1 : 30 (g : mL) value for the sample : NaOH ratio; 2 mol L—1 NaOH concentration; and a reaction time of more than 24 h.In this study the effective utilization of two types of municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) ashes, namely air-cooled ash (ACS) and water-cooled ash (WCS) samples obtained from a municipal solid waste incineration plant, was examined by applying zeolitic material synthesis and silica extraction. The influence of the experimental conditions including the ratio of sample : NaOH solution, the reaction temperature and time, and the concentration of NaOH solution were investigated. The results for the 25 experimental trials can be summarized as: (1) the formation of tobermorite and/or pectolite-1A as a major component in most conditions; (2) the synthesis of hydroxycancrinite as a major phase at 200 degrees C; (3) a dramatic increase in the extracted SiO(2) yield at 1 : 30 value of sample : NaOH ratio and 200 degrees C, even at short reaction times; and (4) relatively high SiO(2) yields for WCS ashes rather than ACS ashes. An increase in the reaction time improved the quantity of synthesized zeolitic materials. The reaction temperature determined the type of zeolite. An increase in the NaOH concentration can be an essential factor to improve zeolitic material synthesis, but it significantly reduced the yield of SiO(2) extraction. In conclusion, suitable conditions for obtaining both SiO(2) extraction and synthesized zeolites from the ashes of the incinerated solid waste materials should be: 200 degrees C reaction temperature; a 1 : 30 (g : mL) value for the sample : NaOH ratio; 2 mol L(-1) NaOH concentration; and a reaction time of more than 24 h.

Establishment of Soil Suitability for Korean Black Raspberry by Soil Morphological and Physical Properties

The objective of this study was to establish the decision criteria of soil suitability for Korean Black raspberry using soil morphological and physical properties. The investigation was carried out in Gochang, Sunchang, Jeongeup, Pohang, and Hoengseong districts in Korea. The obtained results showed that factors related to the decision criteria of the soil suitability for Korean Black raspberry cultivation were soil texture, soil drainage class, land slope, and available soil depth . The criteria of the best suitability soil for Korean Black raspberry was valley/fan or hill geomorphology, well or moderately drainage class, B-slope(2-7%), coarse loamy soil texture family, less than <15% gravel contents, and available soil depth deeper than 100cm. The area criteria of soil suitability for Korean Black raspberry of Gochang was more than 50% including best and suitable areas.

Taxonomical Classification of Cheongweon Series Distributed on Broad Continental Alluvial Plains

This study was conducted to reclassify Cheongweon series based on the second edition of Soil Taxonomy and to discuss the formation of Cheongweon series distributed on broad continental alluvial plains. Morphological properties of typifying pedon of Cheongweon series were investigated and physico-chemical properties were analyzed according to Soil survey laboratory methods manual. The typifying pedon of Cheongweon series has dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt loam Ap horizon (0~18 cm), dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt loam BA horizon (18~30 cm), dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) silty clay loam Bt1 horizon (30~60 cm), strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) silty clay loam Bt2 horizon (60~91 cm), brown (10YR 4/4) silt loam BC horizon (91~104 cm), and mottled (7.5YR 4/6, and 7.5YR 5/2) silt loam C horizon (104~160 cm). The typifying pedon has an argillic horizon from a depth of 30 to 91 cm and a base saturation (sum of cations) of 35% or more at 125 cm below the upper boundary of the argillic horizon. It can be classified as Alfisol, not as Incceptisol. It has udic soil moisture regime, and can be classified as Udalf. Also that meets the requirements of Hapluadalf. It has anthraquic condition, and keys out as Anthraquic Hapludalf. That has fine silty textural family, and has mesic soil temperature regime. Therefore Cheongweon series can be classified as fine silty, mixed, mesic family of Anthraquic Hapludalfs, not as fine silty, mixed, mesic family of Fluvaquentic Epiaquepts.

Soil Physical and Chemical Characteristics of River-Bed Sediments in River Basins

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.

Mineralogical characterization related to physico-chemical conditions in the pyrite-rich tailings in Guryong Mine, Korea

Abstract The detailed characterization of mineralogical changes with depth in pyrite-rich tailings from an abandoned mine provides insight into the future geochemical progression of the tailings. Based on the pH and mineralogical characterization, the Guryong mine tailings can be divided into four zones: jarosite zone, iron (Fe)-sulfate zone, Fe-oxyhydroxide and gypsum-bearing pyrite zone, and calcite-bearing pyrite zone. The jarosite zone was approximately 50 cm deep from the surface and had secondary gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and jarosite [KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6]. The pH of the jarosite zone ranged from 2.3 to 4.0, and the ratio of total Fe to total sulfur (S) ranged from 0.7 to 4.3. These results show that the solid phase, schwertmannite or jarosite, is associated with the total sulfate (SO4) content. The Fe-sulfate zone had low pH values caused by strong pyrite oxidation and greatest amounts of the secondary minerals and acid-leachable heavy metals. The Fe-oxyhydroxide and gypsum-bearing pyrite zone reflects partial alteration of pyrite resulting in the coexistence of secondary gypsum and primary pyrite. The calcite-bearing pyrite zone had pH values exceeding 7.0 at greater depths and contained primary calcite (CaCO3). However, the GS6 and GS10 profiles, which contained coarse particles near the water table, were the most acidic and their calcite contents were not dectected. The oxidation of pyrite is the most important factor in the mineral cycling of Guryong mine tailings, controlling the changes in pH, the precipitation of secondary mineral phases, and the behavior of heavy metals through the profile.

A Study on Soil Characteristics of Paddy Fields with Re-established Soils

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.

Effect of Deep Ploughing with a Spading Machine and an Excavator on Improvement of Physical Properties in the Highland Applied Saprolite

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.

Effects of Road Constructions on Soil Drainage from Paddy Fields

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.

Micromorphological Features of Pan Horizon in the Soils Derived from Different Parent Materials

We have five soil series of pan soils in South Korea out of 391 series: Gangreung, Bugog, Yeongog, Jangweon, and Pogog. Productivity decreases in pan soils as pan horizons impede percolation and capillary rise of water and interrupt root extension. This study was performed to investigate pedogenic processes of pan soils mainly located in footslope and river terrace by analyzing physicochemical properties and soil micro-morphology. Korean pan soils belong to Alfisols, Ultisols, or Inceptisols and have udic or aquic soil moisture regime, mesic temperature regime, and mixed mineral substances. Texture of pan horizons selected for the present study was mainly silty clay loam with clay contents ranging from 26.3 to 45.3%. Bulk density of the pan horizons ranged from 1.4 to 2.1 Mg m -3 and their soil structure were subangular or angular structure. In terms of micromorphological structure, Bt horizon of Gangreung series was formed as platy and striated b-fabric structure possibly affected by uplift of coastal terrace following clay sedimentation by flood. Jangweon series showed micro-morphology of massive structure and crystallic b-fabric as macropores between coarse debris established by debris fall in slope were filled with silt-sized particles. The Bt horizons having massive structure and striated b-fabric in Yeongog, Pogog, and Bugog series implies that those horizons experienced horizontal mass flow after clay accumulation.