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Research Article
- Decentralized Renewable Energy for Smart Agriculture: Economic and Carbon Reduction Potentials of Biomass CHP Systems
- Sunyong Park, Jiwook Yang, Sungyeol Kim, Kyojung Hwang, JaeJung Lee, Sunhwa Ryu
- This study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of a heat-led biomass combined heat and power (CHP) system for a 10-ha smart greenhouse complex …
- This study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of a heat-led biomass combined heat and power (CHP) system for a 10-ha smart greenhouse complex in Sangju, Korea. A dispatch-based simulation was conducted to determine the optimal electrical capacity required to meet a fixed annual heating demand of 46.74 GWhth. System capacities between 1 and 9.9 MWe were evaluated, and three representative configurations (5, 5.5, and 6 MWe) were analysed in detail. All configurations satisfied the annual heating demand under heat-led operation. However, thermal capacity factors declined from 38.8% (5 MWe) to 32.3% (6 MWe) as installed capacity increased, indicating reduced utilization once demand saturation was reached. Total capital investment ranged from 21.70 to 26.04 billion KRW. Over a 20-year project horizon with a 7% discount rate, the 5.5 MWe system demonstrated the strongest economic performance, achieving an NPV of 3.36 billion KRW, ROI of 1.33%, and B/C ratio of 1.04. The 5 MWe configuration showed comparable feasibility with slightly lower profitability, while the 6 MWe system exhibited reduced financial returns due to higher capital intensity and limited incremental revenue. Sensitivity analysis (±10%) identified heat tariff levels as the dominant economic driver, followed by fuel cost. Electricity prices had a moderate influence, and carbon-credit revenues played a minor role. Annual CO2 reductions ranged from 7,503 to 9,470 tCO2 compared to kerosene-based heating. The results indicate that a mid-scale (approximately 5.5 MWe) heat-led biomass CHP system offers the most balanced trade-off between utilization efficiency and economic performance under current conditions. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Non-destructive Classification of Phytophthora Blight and Water Stress in Perilla Using Hyperspectral Imaging and 1D-CNN
- Tae-An Kang, Chi-Yong An, Youngnam Yoon, Jongsoo Ryu, Hongseok Lee
- Phytophthora blight and water stress in perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) exhibit similar foliar symptoms, making visual differentiation challenging. In this study, …
- Phytophthora blight and water stress in perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) exhibit similar foliar symptoms, making visual differentiation challenging. In this study, we developed a non-destructive classification method using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in conjunction with Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN). The “Anyu” perilla cultivar was subjected to four treatments: control, drought, waterlogging, and inoculation with Phytophthora nicotianae MR40622. Hyperspectral images (400－1,000 nm) were acquired daily, and pixel-level spectra were preprocessed using Raw, Savitzky-Golay (SG) smoothing, Standard Normal Variate (SNV), and first-derivative methods. Classification was performed across three stages of stress progression: early, middle, and late. PLS-DA demonstrated limited sensitivity to preprocessing, achieving a maximum F1 score of 0.688 at the late stage when using SNV. Conversely, the 1D-CNN model combined with first-derivative preprocessing consistently yielded the highest performance, reaching F1 scores of 0.527, 0.772, and 0.827, at the early, middle, and late stages, respectively. The performance gap between PLS-DA and 1D-CNN widened from 0.004 to 0.139 as stress increased, indicating that the 1D-CNN effectively captured nonlinear spectral patterns. Saliency map analysis revealed that the chlorophyll absorption band at 660－690 nm contributed most to classification across all stages, while the water absorption band at 900－950 nm exhibited an increased contribution for the drought and waterlogging treatments during the late stage. These results demonstrate that HSI combined with a 1D-CNN serves an effective, non-destructive diagnostic tool for distinguishing between Phytophthora blight and water stress in perilla. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Integrated Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Decentralized Biochar System Using Agricultural Residues
- Sunyong Park, DaeHyun Kim, Kwang Cheol Oh
- This study presents an integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment of a decentralised 1 ton/day biochar production system using agricultural residues. A small-scale …
- This study presents an integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment of a decentralised 1 ton/day biochar production system using agricultural residues. A small-scale configuration including feedstock collection, pelletisation, and torrefaction was designed based on experimental data and literature-derived parameters. Capital expenditure was estimated using equipment scaling methods, and operating costs were calculated from market-based unit prices. Economic performance was evaluated through discounted cash-flow analysis and Monte Carlo simulation over a 20-year horizon. The capital structure was dominated by the torrefaction reactor and indirect installation costs, while operating expenditure was primarily driven by labour, followed by thermal and electricity demand. Under baseline assumptions, the project achieved a positive net present value and an internal rate of return exceeding the 5% discount rate, indicating moderate feasibility. However, scenario and probabilistic analyses revealed strong sensitivity to labour intensity and transportation costs. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment focusing on global warming potential was conducted using the Brightway2 framework. Off-gas energy recovery was incorporated into process heat demand to avoid carbon double counting. Although biogenic CO2 treatment significantly affected absolute GWP values, electricity and process heat consistently emerged as the dominant environmental hotspots. The integrated results indicate that economic performance is labour-driven, whereas environmental performance is governed by utility demand, highlighting complementary optimisation pathways for improving decentralised biochar sustainability. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Impact of Lookback Window Length on Transformer-Based Multi-Step Forecasting of Chlorophyll-a in an Agricultural Reservoir
- Jinyoo Lee, Yeongseo Kim, Jonggun Kim, Seoro Lee
- In this study, a Transformer-based Sequence-to-Sequence (S2S) model for multi-step (72 h) chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) forecasting was developed, and the impact of the …
- In this study, a Transformer-based Sequence-to-Sequence (S2S) model for multi-step (72 h) chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) forecasting was developed, and the impact of the lookback window (i.e., historical input sequence length) on the forecasting performance was investigated. By evaluating various input sequence lengths ranging from 12 to 96 h, the results showed that a 48 h lookback window achieved the most robust performance, yielding an average Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.811 across the entire forecasting horizon and maintaining a stable NSE of 0.762 even at t+72 h. In contrast, the forecasting accuracy at t+72 h declined to NSE values of 0.730 and 0.705 when the 72 h and 96 h input sequences were used, respectively. Cross-attention analysis revealed that the model assigned the highest weights to the most recent past interval (t-1 h－t-7 h). These results suggest that an excessively long lookback window introduces redundant or irrelevant information during training, leading to a degraded forecasting performance. Overall, these findings have highlighted that the optimal configuration of the lookback window is a critical factor for Chl-a forecasting in agricultural reservoirs. This study provides a basis for the design and optimization of future time-series-based water quality forecasting models. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Effects of Allium victorialis (Myeongi Namul) Addition on the Quality Characteristics and Antioxidant Activity of Morning Rolls
- Sun-Ho Lee
- This study investigated the quality characteristics and antioxidant activities of morning rolls fortified with Allium victorialis powder (AVP) at 0, 3, 6, …
- This study investigated the quality characteristics and antioxidant activities of morning rolls fortified with Allium victorialis powder (AVP) at 0, 3, 6, and 9% (w/w, based on wheat flour). Increasing AVP levels slightly reduced moisture content and pH while increasing titratable acidity. AVP addition decreased lightness (L) and redness (a) and increased yellowness (b). Textural analysis showed that hardness and chewiness increased with AVP level, whereas adhesiveness and cohesiveness decreased. Total polyphenol content and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity increased significantly with AVP addition. These results indicate that AVP can be used to develop functional morning rolls with enhanced antioxidant properties, although sensory and physical attributes (color, texture, loaf volume) are altered. A practical compromise between functionality and acceptability is likely achieved at 3－6% AVP. It is suggest that use in bread production could enable the development of functional breads likely to appeal to consumer preferences. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity in Euphorbia humifusa Extracts
- Na-Young Kim, Jin-Hyuk Choi, Sung-Jin Park
- Euphorbia humifusa is a widely distributed medicinal herb rich in phenolic compounds; however, comprehensive evaluations of its phenolic profile and antioxidant potential …
- Euphorbia humifusa is a widely distributed medicinal herb rich in phenolic compounds; however, comprehensive evaluations of its phenolic profile and antioxidant potential using methanolic extracts remain limited. Dried aerial parts were extracted with 80% methanol (yield 20.32%). The methanolic extract contained high levels of gallic acid (11.29 mg/g), TPC (164.21 ± 0.45 mg GAE/g), and TFC (53.62 ± 0.18 mg RE/g). The extract exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant activity, achieving 81.25% DPPH scavenging at 400 µg/mL, strong ABTS activity comparable to standard antioxidants at higher concentrations, and a FRAP value of 584.32 ± 1.62 µmol Fe(II)/g. Pearson correlation analysis revealed very strong positive relationships between TPC and antioxidant assays (e.g., DPPH R = 0.998, ABTS R = 0.997). The antioxidant capacity of E. humifusa methanolic extract is substantial and is largely attributable to its high phenolic content -particularly gallic acid - supporting its potential as a natural antioxidant source for food, cosmetic, or nutraceutical applications. Further work is recommended to isolate active constituents, assess in vivo efficacy and safety, and optimize extraction and standardization protocols. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- A Network and Delphi Analysis Approach to Identify Steep Slope Risk Factors: South Korean Case Study
- Cherry Rose Godes, One-Bin Lim, Shanelle Aira Rodrigazo, Yongseong Kim, Jaeheum Yeon
- Rapid urbanization in mountainous regions increases the risk of slope collapse, highlighting the need for a robust risk assessment framework. In South …
- Rapid urbanization in mountainous regions increases the risk of slope collapse, highlighting the need for a robust risk assessment framework. In South Korea, existing models struggle with environmental dynamics and weather irregularities, and local government agencies are slow to respond to emerging challenges. This study addresses these issues using a three-step process. First, key risk factors—such as slope elevation, soil type, 1-hour disaster rainfall, snow accumulation, and forest fires—were identified using text analytics with Gephi and KH Coder. These factors were then validated through a Delphi analysis with 20 experts, achieving consensus on their significance. Finally, the validated factors were tested on 200 steep slopes to assess their practical applicability, leading to their integration into current guidelines. The results showed improved sensitivity and effectiveness in risk assessments. This study offers essential insights for engineers and policymakers, providing a model that can enhance risk management practices, prioritize mitigation measures, and strengthen community resilience in mountainous regions globally. - COLLAPSE
Journal Informaiton
Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
1 Kangwondaehak-gil, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24341, Korea
Tel: +82-33-250-6408 / Fax: +82-33-259-5743 / E-mail: alsri@kangwon.ac.kr Copyright© Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
Tel: +82-33-250-6408 / Fax: +82-33-259-5743 / E-mail: alsri@kangwon.ac.kr Copyright© Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University