In recent years, the government has strongly promoted multi-purpose utilization of paddy field. However, poor drainage causes waterlogging stress in upland crops, requiring subsurface drainage technology, resulting in high installation and management costs. To address this issue, a low-cost and high-efficiency technique was developed that utilizes wasted coir substrates which have characteristics of high porosity and good drainage, for upland crop cultivation in paddy fields. Soybeans were grown in both paddy soil and wasted coir slab with two planting densities (80×20 cm and 60×20 cm). The results showed that the coir substrates had better performance than the paddy soil in terms of soil physical and chemical properties and the growth and yield of upland crops are improved. The treatments using wasted coir substrate showed a 41.4% increase in yield and a 21.3% increase in protein content compared to PS treatment. Our findings demonstrate that recycling waste coir substrates to grow upland crops is a positive cultivation strategy to solve some drainage problems in paddy fields. This approach offers a sustainable solution for upland crop production while also addressing the issue of waste management in agriculture.

Melons, a rich source of vitamins and fibers, are commonly grown in the soil. Hydroponic cultivation could improve yield and quality of melon and selection of substrate volume and the kind of substrates is important for hydroponic cultivation of melons. This study investigated the effect on melon growth according to volume of granular rockwool and substrates of coir and rockwool slab. ‘Geumsegye’ melon (Cucumis melo L. cv. Geumsegye) was cultivated hydroponically according to volume of granular rockwool to 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 L, and was also cultivated using coir and rockwool slabs. Logistic model was applied to estimate the growth characteristics of melons such as plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and the characteristics of fruit. The growth characteristics of melons were significantly increased at 4.0 L compared to those grown of 1.0 L volume of on granular rockwool, and the results were the highest in coir and rockwool slabs. Melons grown in rockwool slabs showed the largest fruit fresh weight, fruit length, and fruit width. During hydroponic cultivation, growth characteristics of melon appropriate at the 4.0 L volume of granular rockwool, and the highest at coir and rockwool slabs. This study provides a basis for understanding the effect of root zone environment to the growth characteristics and fruit quality of non-netted melon.

코이어 배지를 이용한 파프리카 재배에서 직접 정식 시 절곡 방법에 따른 정식 후 초기 생육과 수확량을 비교하였다. 절곡 방법은 I-type(절곡각도 0°), 옆으로 뉘인 L-type(절곡각도 90°), 뒤집어서 뿌리가 위로 향하도록 하는 U-type(절곡각도 180°)로 하였다. 줄기 신장 및 직경, 엽면적의 주간 평균 발달량은 정식 후 초기에 다른 처리구에 비해 영양생장이 왕성하였던 I-type에서 가장 높았다. 정식 후 46주째의 뿌리 무게도 I-type 처리구에서 다른 처리구들에 비해 약 1.3－1.7배 정도 무거웠다. 처리구별로 330주에서 생산된 수확량은 각각 약 510, 420 및 480kg으로 I-type에서 가장 높았다. 따라서 코이어 배지를 활용한 파프리카 재배에서 직접 정식 시 정식 초기의 뿌리 활착 및 세력 확보, 그리고 이후 착과 안정성에서 I-type이 적합할 것으로 판단된다.

E 499524'(적색), 'E 499526'(황색) 및 'E 499531'(주황색) 3 품종(Enza Zaden, The Netherlands)의 소과형 파프리카를 이용하여 여름철에 코이어배지경으로 시험을 수행하였다. 양액공급은 오전 7시부터 오후 4시까지 TDR센서를 이용하여 공급하였으며 배지 내 함수량(관수개시점)을 생육단계별로 설정하였다. 초장은 배지함수량이 높을수록 길었으며 품종 간에는 '적색', '황색', '주황색' 순이었다. 평균과중은 배지함수량이 많을수록 무거웠으나 품종 간에는 차이가 없었다. 주당 착과수는 함수량이 높을수록 많았으며 품종 간에는 '적색', '황색', '주황색' 순이었다. 상품수량은 배지함수량이 높을수록 증가하였고 배지함수량 55~65~60% 처리에서 가장 많았으며 품종 간에는 '적색' 품종이 8,348kg/10a, '황색' 품종이 6,916kg/10a, '주황색' 6,916kg/10a, 순으로 많았다. 과실의 당도는 배지수분 함량이 적을수록 높았으며 품종 간에는 '주황색'이 7.8~9.3˚Brix로 가장 높았다. 과육의 두께는 배지 수분함량 간에는 차이가 없었으나 품종 간에는 '황색'이 가장 두꺼웠다. BER, 과병무름증 및 일소과 발생율은 배지함수량이 많을수록 낮았으며 품종 간에는 차이가 없었다. 이상의 결과에서 여름철 소과형 파프리카 수경재배 시 코이어 배지의 관수개시점을 정식부터 제1그룹 착과까지는 55%, 제1그룹부터 2그룹수확까지는 65%, 제3그룹착과 이후부터는 60%로 설정하는 것이 가장 좋은 것으로 판단되었다.

코이어 배지(코코넛 분말:섬유=70%:30%, v/v)를 이용한 착색단고추 수경재배에서 공급 배양액의 적정 농도를 구명하자 EC 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 및 4.0dS·m-1의 농도를 공급하였다. 생육 기간 동안 배양액의 급액 농도에 따른 슬라브 내의 EC는 급액 농도가 높아지면 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 수분 함량은 반대의 경향을 보였다. 배액의 pH는 안정적이었으며, EC는 급액 농도 EC 4.0dS·m-1에서 EC 7.3dS·m-1로 높았을 뿐만 아니라 표준편차와 변이계수도 높았다. 초장은 급액농도 간 큰 차이를 나타내지 않았다. 광합성율은 급액 농도 EC 4.0dS·m-1에서 전반적으로 높았다. 과중은 급액 농도 EC 4.0dS·m-1에서 가장 무거웠으며, 과형은 급액 농도 EC 3.5dS·m-1에서 정사각형에 가까웠다.

This study investigated the applicability of horticultural media with recycled coir substrates the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. Pekinensis) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) crop. The six different types of coir based substrates were A, Coir 45: Perlite 35: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), B, Coir 55: Perlite 25: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), C, Coir 65: Perlite 15: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), D, Coir 75: Perlite 5: Vermiculite 12: Zeolite 8 (%), E, Coir 85: Perlite 5: Vermiculite 5: Zeolite 5 (%) and F, nursery media (control). The pH and Electric conductivity of the horticultural nursery media were 6.06–7.00 and 0.45–1.10 dS/m-1, respectively. The nursery media containing coir substrates had higher level of Total N, Ca, K, Mg and P than those without coir. Additionally, it was observed that the growth of Chinese cabbage was the best on D (containing 75% coir) while that of lettuce was the best on E (containing 85% coir). In general, when substrates containg a higher percentage of coir were used, the growth of Chinese cabbage and lettuce was ideal. Additionally, the P, Ca, and Mg content in both plants was not significantly altered by the amount of coir present in the media. However, with an increase in the amount of coir substrate, the chlorophyll, N, and K content was increased. After harvesting, there was no significant difference in the chemical properties of the horticultural nursery media of both plants. Thus, it can be suggested that, coir substrate after a single use could be recycled as horticulture nursery media.

The current study was performed to investigate the effect of recycling coir substrates on the growth, fruit yield, and quality of strawberry plants. Analysis of physical properties revealed that the pH of a fresh coir substrate was 5.04 while those of substrates reused for one and two years were 5.20 and 5.33, respectively. The electrical conductivity (EC) of a new substrate was as high as 4.58 dS·m−1. This can cause salt stress after transplanting. The EC tended to decrease as the substrate was recycled, and the EC of a two-year recycled substrate was 1.48 dS·m−1. The fresh substrate had lower nitrogen and calcium concentrations, but higher phosphate, potassium, and sodium concentrations than the recycled coir substrate. The coir substrates recycled for one or two years maintained better chemical properties for plant growth than the fresh substrate. Strawberry growth varied depending on the number of years that the coir substrate was recycled. In general, strawberries grown in substrates that had been reused for two years did better than those grown in substrates that had been reused once or were fresh. Ninety days after transplanting, a plant grown in a substrate that had been reused for two years contained 25 leaves, which was 3.6 more than with a fresh substrate. In addition, the plants grown in a substrate that had been reused for two years exhibited larger leaf areas than those grown in other substrates. Coir substrates that had been reused for one year increased the number and area of leaves, but not as much as the substrate that had been reused for two years. One- and two-year reused coir substrates increased the weight of strawberries produced relative to the unused substrate, but the difference was not statistically significant. The plants grown in two-year reused substrates were longer and wider, as well. Also, the number of fruits per plant was higher when substrates were reused. Specifically, the number of fruits per plant was 28.7 with a two-year reused substrate, but only 22.2 with a fresh substrate. The fruit color indices (as represented by their Hunter L, a, b values) were not considerably affected by recycling of the coir substrate. The Hunter L value, which indicates the brightness of the fruit, did not change significantly when the substrate was recycled. Neither Hunter a (red) nor b (yellow) values were changed by recycling. In addition, there were no significant changes in the hardnesses, acidities, or soluble solid-acid ratios of fruits grown in recycled substrates. Thus, it is thought that recycling the coir substrate does not affect measures of fruit quality such as color, hardness, and sugar content. Overall, reuse of coir substrates from hydroponic culture as high-bed strawberry growth substrates would solve the problems of new substrate costs and the disposal of substrates that had been used once.

The present study was investigated the effect of recycled coir organic substrates on the growth of different vegetable crops. The recycled coir had better physical and chemical properties than the new coir. The growth of tomato plant was better on the coir substrate that had been used for 2 years than that on the new coir substrate. The average number of tomato fruits was 108 on the new coir substrate, while it was 179 and 165 on the coir substrate used for 1 and 2 years, respectively. The growth of cherry tomato plant was also better on the coir substrate used for 2 years than that on the new coir substrate. The average number of cherry tomato fruits was 43 on the new coir substrate, while it was 206 and 164 on the coir substrate used for 1 and 2 years, respectively. The growth of brussel sprout was better on the coir substrate used for 3 years than that on the new coir substrate and the average number of brussel sprout leaves was 26.8 on the new coir substrate, while it was 34.3 on the coir substrate used for 3 years. The growth of Korean cabbage improved on the coir substrate used for 1 years compared to the new coir substrate and the number of leaves was 15.1 on the new coir substrate, while it was 24.3 on the coir substrate used for 1 year. Thus, used coir can be recycled to improve vegetable yields compared to using new coirs.

The present study was conducted to find a way to recycle the coir substrate by investigating changes in its physical and chemical properties based on the number of use year. Specific gravity of unused coir substrate was 0.212 g/cm3 , while it was higher for the substrate used for 2 years. Porosity was different depending on the number of use year. The porosity of unused substrate was 51.9%, but it increased to 68.6% after used for 2 years. In general, physical and chemical properties were better in the coir substrate used for 2 years than in unused one. The number of leaves, leaf area, flesh weight and dry weight of oriental cabbage and lettuce were higher in coir substrate used for 2 years than those in unused one. Whereas, no significant difference was observed between the substrates used for one year and 2 years, indicating that the one time-used wast substrate could be recycled for cultivating vegetables. Growth of the vegetables was improved when organic fertilizer composed of complex organics with different mixing ratios was provided to the coir substrate, compared to untreated plot. The optimum mixing ratio of the wast substrate and complex organics was 2:8(v/v) for fertilization using wast coir substrate. Therefore, coir substrate generally wasted after being used for one time was reuseable by supplying organic fertilizer.