This study aimed to identify the effects of oxidized brown coal humic acid fertilizer on the relative growth rate of several tree species intended for reforestation. Field experiments were carried out during 2011–2014 at the Research and Experimental Center for Combating Desertification located at the Elsen Tasarkhai station in central Mongolia. The trees studied were Populus sibirica Tausch., Salix ledebouriana Trautv., and Acer tataricum L. The experiment was conducted with concentrations of 2000, 10,000, and 20,000 mg L⁻¹ of humic acid fertilization treatment. Measurement of the relative height growth rate (RHGR) was undertaken for a period of four years. The results demonstrated significant differences between the humic fertilizer concentrations, which varied depending on the species. Compared to monthly RHGR over the study period, the treatment using fertilizers yielded significantly better tree growth. P. sibirica, when treated with 2000 mg L⁻¹ and 10,000 mg L⁻¹ humic acid fertilizers, had significant height growth rates. S. ledebouriana with 20,000 mg L⁻¹ of humic acid fertilzers treatments showed the highest RHGR. In addition, when the humic acid treatments were compared to the control, results showed that oxidized brown coal humic acid fertilizers as an organic fertilizer can have a significant effect on the growth of A. tataricum. The results equally showed that the soil chemical properties EC, CO₂, NO₃, and K₂O were significant among all the treatments compared to control. The effect on P₂O₅ significantly increased in all the treatments; however, there was no significant effect on pH and Mg among all treatments. Combining the results obtained with reforestation and sustainable land-management practices can help to improve soil organics in degraded sandy soil regions.

The present work aimed to determine the phytoextraction potential of four poplar hybrids when treated with mixed heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), chromium, (Cr), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) under greenhouse conditions. Poplar hybrids were treated once with six different concentrations (0, 5, 50, 100, 200, and 500 mg L⁻¹) of mixed heavy metals over a period of 3 months, after which the plants were harvested, dried, digested using the aqua regia method and the heavy metal concentrations in the roots, stem, and leaves were determined. Individual heavy metal analysis using ICP-AES of separate heavy metals in plant parts demonstrated higher Zn accumulation in leaves, compared to all other heavy metals. As for Cd, Cr, and Cu the concentration accumulation in the leaves, stem, and roots varied across hybrids. Based on the phytoextraction potential of the four hybrids, hybrid 1 (Eco 28) was determined as a suitable candidate for phytoextraction of multi-contaminated sites, with DN 034 also showing selective phytoextraction potential in the early stages of growth.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) directly affects human health. The increase in PM and CO₂ concentration indoors caused an increase in the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms. Plants could contribute to reducing particulate matter (PM) and CO₂. This study identifies the most efficient evergreen plant species for improving indoor air quality by assessing the ability of five different indigenous Korean evergreen plant species to reduce PM and CO₂ and regulate humidity and temperature under indoor environmental conditions in acrylic chambers. The clean air delivery rates (CADR) were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of plants in reducing PM and CO₂. We assessed the performance of removing the five study plants on PM₁ (~0.68–3.01 m³/h/leaf area), PM_2.5 (~0.73–3.08 m³/h/leaf area), PM₁₀ (~0.67–3.04 m³/h/leaf area), and CO₂ (~0.48–1.04 m³/h/leaf area). The species Ilex pedunculosa, Pittosporum tobira, and Gardenia jasminoides were the most effective at reducing PM. The CADR of CO₂ also differed among the five plant species and corresponded to their photosynthetic rate. Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki, which had the high photosynthetic rate, was most effective at reducing CO₂. By contrast, PM reduction was correlated with plant leaf structure. Plants with a high leaf density can accumulate more PM. The plants were also able to control temperature and humidity. The average temperature of the control chamber was higher, and the humidity was lower than that of the plant chambers. In this study, the five evergreen species effectively reduced air pollutants and can be used to improve IAQ.

There is an increasing demand for low-maintenance public garden models, and environmental stress on plants due to climate change is growing. As a result, the demand for developing new plant varieties based on native species for use in gardens in response to climate change has increased significantly. Many plants in the Poaceae family are applied for various purposes, including food crops, fodder grasses, ornamental plants, and medicinal plants. Additionally, native plants provide economic and ecological benefits, making them advantageous for use in gardens. However, there are some difficulties in Poaceae breeding studies and the utilization of wild native plants for breeding. Model plants can be utilized in breeding studies of Poaceae plant species. In this study, to identify Korean native Poaceae species with the potential for use not only as garden materials but also as model plants for breeding research in response to climate change, candidate species were selected from the Korean Plant Names Index (KPNI). A total of three Korean native plants in the Poaceae family, including Brachypodium sylvaticum, Setaria viridis, and Zoysia japonica, were selected, and their properties and genome information were compared with the existing representative model plants, Arabidopsis thaliana and Brachypodium distachyon. The current research status of B. sylvaticum, S. viridis, and Z. japonica has been summarized, and the genome size and other characteristics of these model plants have been compared and discussed. As a result, both A. thaliana (2n = 2x = 10) and B. distachyon (2n = 2x = 10) are annual C₃ plants, but B. sylvaticum (2n = 2x = 18) is a perennial C₃ plant, and S. viridis (2n = 2x = 18) is an annual C₄ plant. Thus, B. sylvaticum and S. viridis can be utilized as model plants for perennial C₃ plants and annual C₄ plants, respectively. Z. japonica (2n = 4x = 40) is a perennial C₄ plant, but it can be unsuitable as a model plant because it is an allotetraploid. The application of these newly selected candidate plants in breeding research can build a foundation for breeding native Poaceae plants in Korea in the new climate regime.