BACKGROUND: Increase of heavy metals in agricultural ecosystem has become a social issue nationwide as it is related to public health. This review was performed to find out more systematic and integrated future researches on heavy metals using up to date articles published in the Korean journals related to agricultural environment. METHODS AND RESULTS:Researches on heavy metals in agricultural soils and plant uptake were categorized by the establishment of criteria, analytical methods, monitoring, management of source, characteristics and behavior in soil, plant uptake, bioavailability affecting physico -chemical properties in soil, risk assessment and soil remediation. In the early 1990s, the monitoring for heavy metals in soil has been widely performed. Accumulation of heavy metals in contaminated soil and availability to plants has also attracted interests to study the soil remediation using various physico-chemical methods. The phytoavailability and phytotoxicity of heavy metals have been mainly studied to assess the safety of agro-products using risk assessment techniques in the 2000s. CONCLUSION: Future direction of research on heavy metal in agricultural environment must be carried out by ensuring food safety and sustainability. A steady survey and proper management for polluted regions should be continued. Law and regulation must be modified systematically. Furthermore, studies should expand on mitigation of heavy metal uptake by crops and remediation of polluted fields. (Kabata-Pendias, 1984 ;Adriano, 1986; Fergusson, 1990).농업환경에서의 중금속에 관한 연구는 최초 1920-30년대 에 작물의 미량원소에 대한 필요성과 결핍 연구로서 본격 시 작되었으며, 1940년대 9개의 미량원소가 작물에 필수원소로 작용함과 구리의 결핍증상을 보고하였다. 2차 세계대전 후 급 속한 산업화 및 도시화에 따른 중금속오염이 크게 증가하였 으며 이에 따른 중금속 오염사례의 보고도 증가하였다. 1940 년대 일본 진즈(Zinzu)강 유역 카드뮴 중독과 1950년대 일 본 미나마타(Minamata)만 유기수은 중독이 그것이다. 1970 Open Access Reviews LEE et al. 76년대 이르러 미국에서 화석연료의 사용 증가, 크레용 및 페인 트 등에 의한 어린이 혈액중 납 함량의 증가, 일본의 카드뮴으 로 오염된 쌀, 그리고 유해 중금속을 함유한 하수 슬러지의 농 경지 유입에 따른 식품 연쇄계에의 중금속에 대한 관심이 증가 하였다 (Kabata-Pendias, 1984 ;Adriano, 1986; Fergusson, 1990).이에 국내에서도 1967년 농촌진흥청에서 벼농사에 사용되 어진 유기수은제의 영향으로 백미중 수은함량을 조사하였고, 1971년 구리오염지 토양을 개량하기 위한 석회 및 규산물질 처리 효과를 확인한 이래 농업부분에서 중금속에 대한 활발 한 연구가 수행되었다 (Jeong and Kim, 1971 , 1993, 1995b Jung et al., 1996b Jung et al., , 1997 Jung et al., , 1998b Jung et al., , 2004 and Lee, 1983;Park et al., 1983; Kim and Ryang, 1986; Choi, 1986a, 1986b; Kim et al., 1992b Kim et al., , 1994b Kim et al., , 1994c Kim et al., , 1996c, 도로(Lee and Kim, 1991a, 1991b), 광산 및 공단인근 (Lee and Song, 1985; Lee and Song, 1986; Kim et al., 1992c Kim et al., , 1994a Kim et al., , 1998a Kim et al., , 1999b Kim and Baek, 1994;Yoo et al., 1983Yoo et al., , 1996 Hong et al., 2007a Hong et al., , 2007bYun et al., 2010) 의 , 1985 Park, 1985a, 1985b; Jung et al., 2005c) (1986a, 1986b, 1987, 1988 Lee and Lim, 1987 , 1997a, 1997b, 1997c 1997d, 1997e, 1998

There is an increasing concern over heavy metal(loid) contamination of soil in agricultural areas including paddy soils. This study was conducted to monitor the background levels of heavy metal(loid)s, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in major rice growing soils and its accumulation in brown rice in Korea. The samples were collected from 82 sites nationwide in the year 2012. The mean and range values of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in paddy soils were 4.

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There is a difference between ST and WRB in distinguishing the master horizon. When a pedologists investigate a soil profile, it is difficult to determine which classification method to choose including the master horizon, add a prefix, suffix, etc. to the horizon name. The suffix symbol for groundwater level uses 'g' for ST and 'l' or 'r' for WRB. The suffix symbol 'r' represents a strong reduction state, and 'l' is used in a state where oxidation is much progressed. However, in the real agricultural field, the groundwater level is lowered so that the oxidized part of the profile is classified based on < 2%, 2 -20%, > 20%. In addition, there are soils with a mottle quantity of 20 to 49%. ST classifies this as one like 'g', and WRB distinguishes it. However, since only the presence of a mottle is determined, a refinement is required.

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This study carried out to evaluate the water distribution uniformity of micro-sprinkler to improve water utilization efficiency. The water quantity and the water pressure were measured according to the spacing of micro-sprinkler and adjusting the applied water pressure. The results showed that the spacing of the micro-sprinklers a decisive influence on the distribution uniformity, but the change in hydraulic pressure did not have a significant effect. The water quantity was reduced by 22.7 ± 1.6 % when the water pressure dropped 100 kPa. Each micro-sprinkler has different spray pattern. The wetted radius was measured about 4 m. A peak was found within a meter radius from the center of the micro-sprinkler and gentle slope between 2 -4 m. The appropriate spacing is 2 -4 m depend on micro-sprinkler and purpose of the system. The results would be used in micro-sprinkler system guideline and design for best water distribution uniformity.

BACKGROUND:Increase of heavy metals in agricultural ecosystem has become a social issue nationwide as it is related to public health. This study was performed to find out the status and long-term trends with consecutive application with the commercial liquid pig manure in the agricultural fields. METHODS AND RESULTS: Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc were analyzed in the 41 samples of paddy fields and 54 samples of upland fields consecutively applied with commercial liquid pig manure for 0 to 16 years. Heavy metal accumulation were not increased statistically at the both paddy and upland fields as the consecutive application year of commercial liquid pig manure were increased. However, some of surveyed upland soils exceeded the criteria of cadmium, copper, and zinc designated by the Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. CONCLUSION: Therefore, analysis of heavy metals, specially copper and zinc, in agricultural fields is absolutely necessary before liquid pig manure application to the fields. In addition, heavy metal accumulation in agricultural fields following