Permeable blocks are effective in improving urban water circulation and alleviating heat islands and floods. However, they cause environmental problems owing to their dependence on cement and natural aggregates. In this study, a permeable block was developed, and its performance was verified using ferronickel slag (FNS) as a substitute. The block applied with FNS met the KS F 4419 standard, and an average flexural strength of 4 MPa and a permeability coefficient of 0.1 mm/s or more were secured. This study confirmed that natural aggregate collection could be suppressed, resource efficiency could be improved, greenhouse gas reduction could be achieved, and high value-added industrial byproducts could be used.

This study aimed to improve and refine climate exposure indicators developed in a previous study by incorporating and analyzing two years of Italian ryegrass field trial data from the Jinju and Jangheung regions. The objective was to evaluate the relationships between productivity and climatic factors. The field trial results demonstrated that plant height, fresh yield, and dry matter yield of Italian ryegrass was significantly higher in 2018–2019 than in 2017–2018. Precipitation and temperature during the winter and spring seasons of 2018–2019 were also greater than those recorded in 2017–2018. Correlation analyses revealed significant positive associations between productivity and precipitation in Oct, Dec, Feb, and Mar. Productivity was also positively correlated with mean temperature and mean minimum temperature in Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, and Apr, as well as with growing degree days in Oct, Dec, Jan, Feb, and Mar. The climate exposure indicators derived in this study are expected to serve as valuable tools for predicting Italian ryegrass productivity and assessing vulnerability to climate impacts. Nevertheless, considering the complex interactions between climatic factors and field conditions, further refinement through additional experiments and analyses remains necessary.

Molecular markers have been widely applied in population genetics, diagnostic taxonomy, and genetic mapping, and they can also be used for classifying varieties of Italian ryegrass during field selection. In this study, genome-wide sequence information was generated for 10 Italian ryegrass cultivars (40 samples), including ‘Kowinearly’ (KW), using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed that only three SNP loci were sufficient to distinguish KW from the other cultivars. Furthermore, 21 alternative barcode sets, each consisting of three SNPs, were identified. These SNP barcode sets provide a reliable criterion for cultivar discrimination in Italian ryegrass and can contribute to the protection of domestic varieties and the advancement of the forage industry in Korea. More broadly, the development of distinguishing markers across Italian ryegrass cultivars will enhance genetic resource identification and support the breeding of high-quality new varieties.

This study reports the development of a new alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) variety, ‘Alfaone’, at the Forage Production Systems Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea, from 2015 to 2023. The variety originated from an artificial cross between Xun Lu (maternal parent) and RadarⅡ Brand (paternal parent), followed by pedigree selection and performance testing. The elite line ‘MsCB01’ was subsequently released as ‘Alfaone’. Regional adaptability trials were conducted for two years (2022–2023) across four representative sites in Korea (Cheonan, Pyeongchang, Jeongeup, and Jinju) to evaluate agronomic traits, forage yield, and quality. Evaluated characteristics included plant height, regrowth ability, winter survival, and lodging resistance. The average dry matter yield of ‘Alfaone’ was 20,811 kg/ha, approximately by about 3% higher than that of the standard cultivar ‘Vernal’ (20,236 kg/ha). Yield superiority was particularly evident in Pyeongchang, suggesting excellent cold tolerance and winter hardiness. Assessment of forage nutritive traits indicated that ‘Alfaone’ was comparable to ‘Vernal’, demonstrating that its yield advantage did not come at the expense of quality. Overall, ‘Alfaone’ is a promising cultivar that combines high productivity with strong adaptability to unfavorable environments, particularly cold-prone regions. Its release is expected to promote the expansion of alfalfa cultivation, enhance forage self-sufficiency, and reduce dependence on imported hay in Korea.