Yoo-Hak Kim

Status and Changes in Chemical Properties of Paddy Soil in Korea

Soil chemical properties of agricultural soils in Korea were investigated at four-years interval in order of paddy, plastic film house, upland, and orchard soils since 1999. Paddy soil samples were taken from the surface 15 cm at 4,047, 2,010, 2,110 and 2,110 sites in all provinces of South Korea in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2010, respectively. Soil chemical properties in Korea except Jeju province were measured. Soil pH and exchangeable calcium and available silicate contents increased with increasing the application rate of silicate fertilizer and with decreasing its application interval. Soil organic matter content also increased from in 1999 to in 2011. Average concentration of available phosphate in 2011 was higher than the upper limit of its optimal range for rice cultivation. However, exchangeable magnesium and available silicate contents were below the lower limit of their optimal ranges, which were 80% and 92% of them, respectively.

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.

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.

Effects of Cadmium and Arsenic on Physiological Responses and Copper and Zinc Homeostasis of Rice

Heavy metals reduce the photosynthetic efficiency and disrupt metabolic reactions in a concentrationdependent manner. Moreover, by replacing the metal ions in metalloproteins that use essential metal ions, such as Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe, as co-factors, heavy metals ultimately lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These, in turn, cause destruction of the cell membrane through lipid peroxidation, and eventually cause the plant to necrosis. Given the aforementioned factors, this study was aimed to understand the physiological responses of rice to cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) toxicity and the effect of essential metal ions on homeostasis. In order to confirm the level of physiological inhibition caused by heavy metal toxicity, hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dongjin) plants were exposed with 0-50 μM cadmium (Cd, CdCl₂) and arsenic (As, NaAsO₂) at 3-leaf stage, and then investigated malondialdehyde (MDA) contents after 7 days of the treatment. With increasing concentrations of Cd and As, the MDA content in leaf blade and root increased with a consistent trend. At 14 days after treatment with 30 μM Cd and As, plant height showed no significant difference between Cd and As, with an identical reduction. However, As caused a greater decline than Cd for shoot fresh weight, dry weight, and water content. The largest amounts of Cd and As were found in the roots and also observed a large amount of transport to the leaf sheath. Interestingly, in terms of Cd transfer to the shoot parts of the plant, it was only transported to upper leaf blades, and we did not detect any Cd in lower leaf blades. However, As was transferred to a greater level in lower leaf blades than in upper leaf blades. In the roots, Cd inhibited Zn absorption, while As inhibited Cu uptake. Furthermore, in the leaf sheath, while Cd and As treatments caused no change in Cu homeostasis, they had an antagonist effect on the absorption of Zn. Finally, in both upper and lower leaf blades, Cd and As toxicity was found to inhibit absorption of both Cu and Zn. Based on these results, it would be considered that heavy metal toxicity causes an increase in lipid peroxidation. This, in turn, leads to damage to the conductive tissue connecting the roots, leaf sheath, and leaf blades, which results in a reduction in water content and causes several physiological alterations. Furthermore, by disrupting homeostasis of the essential metal ions, Cu and Zn, this causes complete heavy metal toxicity.

Long-term Application Effects of Fertilizers and Amendments on Changes of Soil Organic Carbon in Paddy Soil

The changes of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in paddy soils (sandy loam) were assessed from data of the 59 years fertilization plots in which the continuous rice cropping experiment started in 1954. The treatments were no fertilization(no fert.), NPK fertilization (N, NPK), NPK plus rice straw compost (NPK+C), and NPK plus rice straw compost, silicate fertilizer and lime (NPK+CLS). After 41 years, SOC content in NPK+C and NPK+CLS treatment in surface soils (0~15 cm) reached at the highest, followed by maintaining a plateau level for 8 years. After 51 years, they showed a tendency to decrease. Peak concentrations of soil organic carbon were in NPK+CLS, in NPK+C, in NPK, in N, and in control. Dissolved organic carbon(DOC) contents in surface soil solution were about 2.3 times higher in NPK+C than that in NPK+CLS. Therefore, SOC in subsurface soil(15~30 cm) was greater in NPK+C than the other treatments. These results indicate that continuous application of rice straw compost and silicate fertilizer affected significantly on the level of SOC in surface soils, subsurface soils, and soil solutions. Thus, the combined applications of NPK fertilizers with organic compost and silicate as a soil amendment are recommended as the best fertilization practice for soil carbon accumulation, environment conservation, and enhancement of soil fertility status in the continuous rice cropping system.

Changes of Chemical Properties in Upland Soils in Korea

Soil testing is one of the major strategies for establishing sustainable agricultural practice as it analyzes nutrient contents of soil and determines the amount of nutrients required for crop growth. Soil testing for the field cultivating regional major crops in Korea has been conducting by National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), provincial agricultural research & extension services and agriculture technology centers since 2000. 1,006,227 soil samples were analyzed and uploaded on Korean soil information system (http://soil.rda.go.kr) from 2003 to 2013. Soil pH has changed from 6.1 to 6.2. Organic matter (OM), available (Avail.) phosphate and exchangeable (Exch.) K have decreased from 24 to 23 g kg -1 , 541 to 399 mg kg -1 and 0.90 to 0.72 cmolc kg -1 between 2003 and 2013, respectively. Especially, Exch. Ca contents decreased to 5.7 cmolc kg -1 in 2009 and increased to 6.2 cmolc kg -1 in 2013. Ratios of optimal ranges for cropping were 48% for pH, 22% for OM, 26% for Avail. phosphate, and 23, 16, 22% for Exch. K, Ca and Mg in 2013. Ratios of optimal ranges for pH increased and low ranges for OM, Avail. phosphate and Exch. K increased. Frequency distribution was 64% for pH 5.5~7.0, 65% for OM 10~30 g kg -1 , 48% for Avail. phosphate under 300 mg kg -1 and 23, 29, 22% for Exch. K 0.2~0.6, Ca 4.0~6.0 and Mg 1.0~1.5 cmolc kg -1 .

Effect of Chelating Agents on the Grwoth of Chinese cabbage and Availability of Nutrients in Plastic Film House Soils

This study is conducted to evaluate the effects of chelating agents for improving plant growth and reusing accumulated nutrients in soils of plastic film house. Two experiments were carried out at follows: i) The incubation test was conducted using soils treated with 0, 300 mM of EDTA and DTPA to examine the availability of nutrients. ii) For the pot test, chinese cabbages were cultivated in soils with 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 5 mM of EDTA and DTPA to examine the impacts of plant growth response. The application of chelating agents increased ther availability of soil nutrients in the following order: DTPA > EDTA > control. Inorganic concentration of chinese cabbages in DTPA treatments consderably increased in nitrogen, phosphate, iron and aluminium contents than that of the other treatments. The optimal concentration of DTPA for vigorous plant growth as 0.5 mM. Thus, DTPA was more effective than other chelating agents for healty growth of cabbages and the availability of nutrients accumulated in plastic film house.

Growth Inhibition of Cucumber by Absorbing Excess Al at Low Soil pH

On-site diagnosis applied to soil having a symptom of yellowing and whitening in cucumber leaf and stem. Soil pH determined 4.2 by methods of on-site analysis and 4.5 by soil test analysis. High aluminum in soil solution extracted with water saturation was detected. Leaf and stem tissue were abundant in Al content but not in Ca. Also, N content of leaf and stem was low compared to normal N ranges. This symptom of cucumber assumed to be from the Al and nitrous acid gas toxicity by low soil pH and Eh. Conclusionally, symptom in leaf and stem of cucumber was alleviated and cucumber normally recovered during cultivation period by applying calcium hydroxide solution to correct soil pH up to 6.5. These results showed that low soil pH resulted in aluminum toxicity and N deficiency to plant growth in on-site farming.

Recommendation of the Amount of Nitrogen Top Dressing based on Soil Nitrate Nitrogen Content for Leaf Perilla (Perilla frutescens) under the Plastic Film House

This study was conducted to recommend nitrogen (N) top dressing based on soil nitrate content for leaf perilla under forcing culture in Gumsan-gun and Milyang-si. Experimental design was the randomized complete block design for five N fertilization levels and conventional fertilization. Dry weight, nitrogen uptake, and the node number of leaf perilla were measured and soil nitrate contents were analyzed monthly. The amount of nitrogen uptake for growth of a node with two leaves was 2.2 kg 10a

Case Study of N Deficiency Symptom of Strawberry in the Soil Applied with Sea Deposit Compost

Nitrogen content in soil is a major factor for the crop growth. Ammonium nitrogen in soils is volatilized when soil pH is high. The growth and development problem of strawberry such as color of leaves turning into purple was found when soils were treated with the compost prepared from suspended solids of high pH from the sea. From in-situ analysis it was found that soil pH was 8.33 and nitrate, phosphorous, and potassium contents were relatively low. Nitric acid was added to adjust pH of irrigating water as 1.7, 1.9, and 2.3, then KNO3 0.25 g L -1 and KH2PO4 0.25 g L -1 were added. It was resulted that soils with pH 1.7 produced the most developed strawberries. Strawberry was recovered by irrigation containing the same solution. From the results, the growth and development problem of the strawberry resulted from low nitrate absorption rate. It was concluded that the growth and development of strawberries were recovered by the reduced soil pH using nitric acid.