Changing climate, especially water content(WC) and CO2 (CD) concentration could be effect on the growth of soybean and seed yield. So we evaluated the effects of WC and CD on the physiological characteristics of newly developed soy cultivars in growth chamber. Ten soy cultivars evaluated in three [CO2] levels (CD1, 350; CD2, 500; CD3, 700ppm) and three water content (WC1: 30%, WC2: 40, WC3: 50%) in the pot in growth chamber. Increased [CO2] from 350 to 500 and 500 to 700ppm enhanced crop growth parameters greatly and grain yield, however, grown in CD3 enhanced plant height increasing speed, and shortened growing duration, however, they were grow very weakly and it resulted in lodging problem. High soil water content (WC3) hampered growth and yield of soybean in three CD treatments and the degree was lower in CD1 and CD2 than CD3. In this results we can conclude increasing [CO2] in Korean peninsular might be decrease lodging resistance, especially high moisture content, so, plant breeders and physiologists need to develop improved lodging resistance cultivars under high water content and high CO2 content.

Changing climate could be effect on the growth of soybean and seed yield, so we evaluated newly developed soy cultivars in the point of the physiological characteristics by changing temperature and light intensity in the phytotron. Two soy cultivars evaluated in three temperature levels (T1, 20/15; T2, 25/20; T3, 30/25oC at day/night) the pot experiment in phytotron between winter and spring in 2006 and spring and summer in 2007. Increased temperature from T1 to T2 and T2 to T3 enhanced crop growth parameters greatly and shortened growth duration and increased seed yield, however, grown in winter and spring enhanced too much plant height, so plant stems were very slim and weak and it resulted in the lodging problem. In this results we can estimate warming in Korean peninsular which might be increase temperature with low light intensity, so plant breeders and physiologists should be develop improved lodging resistance cultivars under low light intensity and high temperature.

The effects of CO2 enrichment on growth of maize (Zea mays L.) were examined. Parameters analyzed include growth characteristics, yields, photosynthetic rates, evaporation rates and photosynthesis-related characteristics under elevated CO2 . The plants were grown in growth chambers with a 12-h photoperiod and a day/night temperature of 28/21~circC at the seedling stage and 30/23~circC from the silking stage. The plants were exposed to two elevated CO2 of 500, 700ppm and ambient levels (350 ppm). Chalok 1 and GCB 70 germinated three days after seeding, and germination rates were faster in the elevated CO2 than the control. Germination rates displayed significant differences among the CO2 treatments. At the seedling stage, leaf area, top dry weight, and photosynthetic rates, and plant height indicated positive relationship with elevated CO2 concentrations. At the 5~6 leaf stage, CO2 concentration also indicated positive relationship with plant height, leaf area, top dry weight, and photosynthetic rates. At the silking stage, increased plant height of Chalok 1 was noted in the CO2 treatments compared to the control. No significant differences were noted for GCB 70, in which leaf area decreased but photosynthetic rates increased progressively with CO2 concentration. Stomatal aperture was a little bigger in the elevated CO2 than the control. CO2 concentration was negatively related to stomatal conductance and transpiration rates, resulting in high water use efficiency.

Ammonia (NH3 ) volatilization from a silty clay loam paddy soil applied with non, straight urea, and coated urea, respectively, under transplanting in Milyang, Korea from 2002 and 2003 was simulated by a Water and Nitrogen Management Model (WNMM). Based on the data from the in-situ measurements, NH3 volatilization during the rice growth was 6.04% and 1.46% of the applied nitrogen (N) from straight urea and coated urea, respectively. The bulk aerodynamic approach in WNMM satisfactorily predicted the difference in NH3 loss during the given rice growing seasons from the two urea fertilizers. R2 for the correlation between the predicted and observed NH3 loss during the calibration year (2002) was 0.53 less than 0.68 of the application year (2003). This difference could be due to the weather condition such as heavy rainfall and temperature during the calibration year.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slow release fertilizers (SRF), crotonylidene diurea (CDU) and latex coated urea (LCU), on nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate-N leaching in a silty clay loam soil under polyethylene film mulching (PFM) for sesame cultivation. In PFM plot, concentrations of NO3-N and NH4-N in SRF applied soils were less than that in the urea plot during the whole growing period. However, NO3-N and NH4-N in all the non-mulched plots (NM) were not significantly different. Urea-N in soil treated with SRF was higher than urea plot until 50 days after application and was comparable in all the treatments after 50 days. NO3-N concentrations in leached solution in 21 days after urea fertilization in PFM and NM were 26 mg L-1 and 83 mg L-1 , respectively. However, NO3-N in leached solution at applied CDU and LCU was less than that of urea similar to nitrate concentration in soil. NO3-N in leached solution in applied CDU and LCU in 44 days after application was about 25% lower than that urea plot and PFM, while the NO3-N concentration of CDU and LCU treatment in NM did not changed. Application of SRF increased the yield of sesame and N recovery compared to urea and there was a little difference between SRF and N levels. In conclusion, application of 80% N level with SRF increased N recovery and reduced nitrate leaching without reduction of yields compared with urea application.

In Korea, silicate fertilization (SF) is being practiced every four years to enhance rice production. However, the relationship between nitrogen (N) and SF in view of growth characteristics and grain yield of rice has not been examined after watermelon cropping in plastic film house. This study was carried out to identify useful critical N and Si fertilizer levels to sustain grain yield and to improve N use efficiency for rice. The watermelon-rice cropping system has maintained for three seasons in each year from 1998 to 2001 by farmer before this experiment. Experiments on N and Si fertilization levels were evaluated with Hwayoungbyeo (Oryza sativa L.) in 2002 and 2003 at Uiryeong, Korea. The goal of this experiment was to find out the optimum N and Si levels to sustain rice yield by reducing excessive N fertilizer in watermelon-rice cropping system. Nitrogen fertilization (NF) levels were three (0,~;57,~;114kg~;ha-1;0,~;50,~;100% of conventional NF amount) and five (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and combined with three SF levels (70,~;130,~;180mg~;kg-1;100,~;150,~;200% which were adjusted with Si fertilizer in soil) were evaluated for the improvement of N and Si fertilization level in both years. Rice yielded 3.98-5.95 and 2.84-4.02 t/ha in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Our results showed the combinations of 50% and 100% of N with 200% level of Si produced the highest grain yield in both years, respectably. The grain yield was greatly improved in plot of N25% level when compared to conventional NF (Nl00%) in 2003. In conclusion, NF amount could be reduced about 50% compared to recommended level by specific fertilization of N and Si combination levels for rice growing and grain yield after cultivation watermelon in paddy field.

Biodiversity is closely related to the conservation of ecosystems. Ecosystems provide more subtle, but equally essential, services. Microorganisms decompose human's waste and renew the soils that produce our food crops. Biodiversity in Korean paddies encompass 54 families and 107 species of freshwater invertebrates. In terms of the number of aquatic insects affected by different sources, the order starting with the highest population was swine slurry > chemical fertilizer > fresh straw with reduced fertilizers > control. The number of freshwater invertebrate and aquatic macro-invertebrate in surface water of the plots without insecticidal application were 2 and 2.1 times greater than in fields receiving insecticide applications, respectively. The soil microfungal flora of the 85 isolates paddy fields in Korea was 30 species in 13 genera and 11 isolates were unidentified yet. Agricultural policy should be changed to assist the conservation of biodiversity because until now the agricultural ecosystems have been negatively affected from the development of high-yield varieties to enhance food production, and the expansion of fertilizer and chemical use. For the conservation of agricultural ecosystems, agricultural practices with less investment and more resource saving, as well as enhancing the safety of agricultural and livestock products are essential. Finally, this paper was written for the contribution for the development of environmentally friendly farming systems with neighboring or whole ecosystems.

Korea, rice cultivars have been changing to 'quality' rice rather than high yielding cultivars. However, more than 10% of paddy field has been changed to greenhouse in winter season for cropping of water-melon, oriental-melon, straw berry and et cetra. This experiment has been made to identify the usefulness of critical N and Si fertilization(SF) level to obtain high grain quality rice with reduced insect pest damage by N and SF combination. Before the experiment, watermelon-rice cropping system was maintained for three seasons by farmer from 1998 to 2001. The experiment of N and Si (silicate) fertilization levels was evaluated with Hwayoung-byeo (Oryza sativa L., medium-maturing variety) in 2002 and 2003 in Uiryeong, Korea. Nitrogen fertilization (NF) levels were three and five in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and three SF levels were compared for getting the valuable N/SF level in both years. TOYO-value was positively affected by Si application in N100% plot but it was negatively related with NF level. Normal grain percentage was positively related with TOYO-value and it was highest in 0N plot and Si plots in N100%. Other appearance qualities like powdered, damaged, and cracked grain, were decreased with increasing N fertilization level. SF improved appearance quality in N100% plots but no effects in other treatments. Leaf sheath related diseases were significantly decreased by SF but it was negatively related with NF. In conclusion, SF could be improve grain quality at the same yield levels of conventional fertilization and it also could be reduce the diseases damages of rice plant in all N treatments. NF treatment reduced grain quality and improved grain yield at N50% level, however NF above N50% could not get any kind of benefits. So, compared with conventional fertilizer, reduced NF level is recommended for high grain quality with reduced insect pest damage.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced in 2001 that the overall amount of paddy land set aside for rice will be cut down by 12% by 2005, decreasing from 1.08 million to 953,000 hectares. When evaluating the value of paddy rice systems, the multi-function of paddy systems in the monsoon climate is vital importance. The main functions of paddy rice systems are to conserve biodiversity and maintain sustainability. Some crucial environmental benefits of the paddy rice systems include: flood prevention, recharge of water resources, water purification, soil erosion and landslide prevention, soil purification, landscape preservation and air purification. The paddy rice systems in Korea, which are more diverse than upland crop systems, are known to be composed of 14 orders, 36 families and 134 species. The sustain ability of paddy rice production systems can never be overestimated. Rice is part of the culture and even the heart of spiritual life in the area under the monsoon climate. Therefore paddy rice systems should be preserved with the highest priority being the enhancement of the systems' multi-function. As an outlook to future research, the need of joint and interdisciplinary research projects between economists and natural scientists at inland as well as international levels were emphasized in establishing the development of counter-measure logic through actual proofed analysis. paddy rice systems, the m

A long-term experiment was carried out to examine the effects of compost on the long-term trends and synergy effects with chemical fertilizer and saving the chemical fertilizers of paddy cropping. The experiment was conducted for the past 36 years with constant amounts of N, P, K and compost in a paddy field at Milyang, South Korea. Grain yield was significantly increased in the plots with compost application. Twenty five years after the compost treatment, grain yield was significantly increased and it reached almost 90% of NPK plots. The effect of rice straw compost on grain yield was not clear during the early cropping years about 60%, but it slightly increased there after about 95% during the late five years. In compost plots, soil organic matter content, K and SiO2 was greater in the compost applied plots than with application of recommended doses of NPK. However, soil pH was reduced in compost applied plots and Ca, and Mg were remained unchanged when compared to the application of recommended doses NPK. Soil nutrient contents were less in compost applied plots than with the application of recommended doses of NPK along with compost but was found to be increased than that of un-fertilized plots. The present study indicated that the application of rice straw compost with NPK is the best of all and followed by NPK and Compost. However, treatment of Compost is time consuming and hard working desired and eventually non economical practice in mechanized agricultural systems, even though Compost is very useful source of improving the soil fertility and its physical characteristics and also the application of inorganic N and P are essential for sustaining high yield.

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the performance of three legume species in a zero-tillage, non-fertilized rice field in a temperate zone. Before the experiment for 5 years, from 1995 to 1999, plant growth patterns of three legume species grown as over-wintering (October-May) cover crops on a paddy field were maintained to study N balance and ~textrmN2 fixation. Decrease in plant density accelerated from after winter to flowering from 1,090, 320, and 5 to 732, 232, and 6 plants ~textrmm-2 in Chinese milk vetch (CMV), white clover (WC), and hairy vetch (HV), respectively. Total dry weights of plants above-ground level were 0.05, 0.11, and 2.43 g ~textrmplant-1 . in WC, CMV and HV respectively but steeply increased at ripening up to 0.77, 2.33, and 26 g ~textrmplant-1 . The root dry weight of HV and CMV rapidly increased while in WC, root dry weight increased slightly towards flowering. The highest nodule numbers were recorded in CMV to April thereafter WC produced the highest. Nodule size was distributed within 7mm in CMV but it was larger in HV varying from 1 to 10mm. Shoot N (g ~textrmm-2 ) greatly increased from over-wintering to flowering in CMV, HV and WC and it ranged from 1.66, 0.5 and 1.92 to 12.6, 3.1 and 13.02 g ~textrmm-2 , respectively. After wintering, the initial shoot N content (%) was more in CMV. Root N content (%) was constant or slightly decreased in HV and WC. Soil total N in the control plot (clean fallow) was the highest on Mar. 2 then decreased rapidly to flowering. Soil N content was constant in HV plots whereas it was low in WC plots for the entire growth period except just after winter. Maximum nitrogenase activities were 9, 37.8, and 131 mol ~textrmC2~textrmH4 ~textrmplant-1 ~textrmhour-1 . in CMV, HV, and WC, respectively. Nitrogenase activity showed a direct correlation with nodule number, size and fresh weight. As a cover crop preceding a rice crop, CMV is more suited to colder regions due to its earlier ripening characteristics. Hairy vetch and WC are recommended for regions with a mild winter and a long summer owing to their late ripening and great N fixation activity.

Mineralization of organic N is an important factor in determining the appropriate rate of organic matter application to paddy fields. A kinetic analysis was conducted for nitrogen mineralization of rice, barley, Chinese milk Ovetch (Astragalus sinicus L.; MV) and narrow leaf vetch straw in paddy soil. Nitrogen immobilization occurred rapidly and its rate increased in straw with high C/N ratio. The amount of nitrogen mineralization was rapid in the first year of rice-vetch cropping system. The rate constant (K) depended on the C/N ratio of organic matter. Mineralization of straw increased at high temperature. The amount of available N increment resulted in fast mineralization of straw, especially in rice and barley straw. Chinese milk vetch had the greatest mineralization rate at all temperatures and fertilization levels followed by narrow-leaf vetch. However, rice and barley straws with high C/N ratio immobilized the soil N at the initial incubation duration. Chinese milk vetch or narrow leaf vetch was not effectively mineralized in mixed treatments with rice or barley straw. The mineralization rate of organic matter was mostly affected by the C/N ratio of straw and temperature of incubation. Organic matter with low C/N ratio should be recommended to avoid the immobilization of soil N and the increasing mineralization rate of straw

No-till direct seeding cultivation of rice has major advantages such as saving of labor and cost by eliminating tillage, preparation of seed bed and trans-planting procedure compared to the conventional transplanting cultivation. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of straw treatment and nitrogen levels on the rice growth in no-till direct-seeding cultivation. Rice straw, vetch straw, and the mixture of both of the straws were mulched on the surface of soil before seeding while 4 levels of nitrogen fertilizer, 0, 7, 9, and 11 kkg/10a respectively, were applied at 3 split times, 3-weeks after sowing, 5-weeks after sowing and the panicle initiation stage. Mulching of vetch straw significantly reduced seedling establishment of rice which may be attributed to low oxidation-reduction potential of soil by vetch mulching treatment. Vetch straw increased the concentration of soil ammonium leading to an extension of the greenish leaf to panicle initiation stage. Agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AD EN ) in heavy-mixed straw mulching plots was lower than other treatments. Grain yield and AU EN in the vetch treatment were less affected by fertilized N levels. Conclusively, it is suggested that heavy straw mulching was not efficient for rice seedling establishment and nitrogen usage.e.