Arsenic (As) uptake and accumulation from agricultural soil to rice vary depending on the soil environmental conditions such as soil pH, redox potential, clay content, and organic matter (OM) content. Therefore, these factors are important in predicting changes in the uptake and accumulation of As in rice plants. Here, we studied the chemical properties of As-contaminated and/or rice straw compost (RSC)-treated soils, the growth responses of RSC-applied rice plants under As-contaminated soils, the changes in As content of soil, and the relationship between As uptake and accumulation from the RSC-treated soils to the rice organs under As-contaminated soils. Rice plants were cultivated in 30 mg kg-1 As-contaminated soils under three RSC treatments: 0 (control), 12, and 24 Mg ha-1. No significant differences were indicated in the chemical properties of pre-experimental (before transplanting rice seedling) soils, with the exception of EC, OM, and available P2O5. As the treatment of RSC under 30 mg kg-1 As-contaminated soils increased, EC, OM, and available P2O5 increased proportionally in soil. Increased soil RSC under As-contaminated soils increased shoot dry weight of rice plants at harvesting stage. As content in roots increased proportionally with RSC content, whereas As content in shoots decreased under As-contaminated soil at all stages of rice plants. Nevertheless, As accumulation were significantly decreased in both roots and shoots of RSC-treated rice plants than those in the plants treated without RSC. These results indicate that the use of RSC can mitigate As phytotoxicity and reduce As accumulation in rice plants under As-contaminated soils. Therefore, RSC can potentially be applied to As-contaminated soil for safe crop and forage rice production.

This study was carried out to know the substitute effect of Yacto (leaf mold compost) on popped rice hulls compost (PRHC) in Yang-jik nursery bed of Panax ginseng. PRHC was mixed with Yacto as 50:50 ratio, and 1 ~ 2% of the mixed oil cake, rice bran and urea were also added to promote decaying the mixed compost. The mixed compost made by PRHC and Yacto was showed that positive effect on the growth of ginseng seedling when it was mixed with 1% of oil cake and rice bran, and 2% of mixed oil cake. But addition to the 2% of urea in the mixture of PRHC and Yacto was not positive effect on the growth of ginseng seedling. Root yield of the mixed compost was similar to that of conventional compost by made 100% of Yacto. Therefore, the mixed compost can substitute for Yacto when PRHC and Yacto were mixed by 50:50 ratio and added 1% of oil cake and rice bran.

The test was carried out at a test field at the Wanju Eco-Farming Complex from 2009 to 2010 to figure out the proper application of fertilizers when growing rice at the EcoFarming Complex. The result showed that when compared to the basal application of compost as fertilizer, applying supplementary compost after natural re-seeding of chinese milk vetch (CM씨 helped balance soìl nutrìtìon and maìntained rice yields.

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.