Rice (Oryza sativa L.) ratooning is the production of a second rice crop from the stubble left behind after the main crop harvest. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of main-crop stubble height, irrigation and fertilization on ratoon grain yield. Main crop 'Jinbuol' rice cultivar was harvested to leave with 10, 20, 30, or 40 cm stubble height. When the main crop stubble was harvested with 10 cm height, ratoon rice grain yield was increased by 2,810 kg/ha. Irrigation on stubbles after main crop harvest did not affect the ratoon crop yield and rice quality. The results showed a large variation in the ratoon performance by fertilizer application methods. Top-dressed nitrogen fertilizer on the stubble after harvest caused increase in panicle production and higher maturity rate. However, there was no significant difference in protein content, amylose content of milled rice and cooked rice characters between plots managed with and without nitrogen fertilizer.

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The effectiveness of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias‐Henriot (Acari: Phytoseidae) in controlling the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) was evaluated in commercial strawberry greenhouses in two areas of Korea. Optimum release times for P. persimilis were investigated by case studies. Control effects of the two‐spotted spider mite by release of the predatory mite were shown. There was mostly good control by the release of P. persimilis when there were fewer than 0.9 T. urticae per leaf. We recommend it would be ideal to release P. persimilis twice in December and once in February for very early strawberry harvest, and three times from February to March (after overwintering) for early harvest.

Rice ratooning is the production of a second rice crop from the stubble left behind after the main-crop harvest. The main advantage of rice ratooning is that in areas where rice is the main crop, double crop of rice can be grown for additional returns. Eight cultivars of rice were tested for estimation their ratooning ability. The main crop was harvested at mass maturity, after which the tillers were mowed to stubbles of about 10 cm tall. And then left without any further input, until the ratooned plant were ready for harvest. Highly significant variations were detected in the ratoon performance among cultivars, with ratoon ability ranging from 0% ('Unkwang', 'Jopeyong', 'Odae', 'Nokyang') to 33% ('Jinbuol') in their grain yield. The maximum grain yield from ratoon rice was 202 and 203 kg/10a for 'Jinbuol' and 'Joun' followed by 'Junamjoseng' 174kg/10a. Protein and amylose contents of ratoon rice were more increased than those of main rice. The platability value of cooked rice of ratoon was lower than that of main crop. Germination rate of the previous year's harvest of rice was not significantly different between ratoon and main crop. This rice ratooning system requires short duration, creating possibility for growing another crop in the same cropping year and offers an opportunity to increase cropping intensity per unit of cultivated areas.

This study was conducted to predict the yield loss of red pepper and to determine the economic weed thresholds levels for red pepper cultivation field from competition with the most serious weeds, Echinochlor crus-galli (L.) P. beauv. (barnyard grass) and Chenopodium album L.(goosefoot) in Youngyang of Korea. Crop yield as a function of weed density was predicted by using a rectangular hyperbola, and their economic threshold levels were determined by using the equation developed by Cousens (1987). The red pepper yield loss models of weeds were predicted as y=317.0 kg/ (1+0.1707x), R 2 =0.895 in E. crus-galli and y=323.2 kg/(1+0.2900x), R 2 =0.896 in C. album L.. Economic thresholds calculated using Cousens' equation was negatively related with the competitiveness of weed. Economic thresholds of each weed were calculated as 6.5 plant 100 m -2 in E. crus-galli, and 3.7 plant 100 m -2 in C. album L..