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2026 Vol.44, Issue 1 Preview Page

Research Article

Assessment of the Chemical Properties and Resource Utilization Potential of Paprika Plant Residues
Se Hun Ju1†
,
Young Je Kim2†
,
Yoon Go2
,
Eun Ji Kim1
,
Jun Gu Lee3
,
Jongseok Park4
,
Daegi Kim5
,
Beom Seon Lee6
,
Haeyoung Na7*
1Interdisciplinary Program of Development and Utilization of Biological Resources, Graduate School of Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
2Department of Horticultural Science, Graduate School of Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
3Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
4Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
5Department of Environmental Engineering, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
6Department of Horticulture, School of Green Smart Farm, Sunchon National University, Sunchon 57922, Korea
7Department of Horticulture and Forestry, College of Life and Medical Sciences, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
28 February 2026. pp. 93-104
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Abstract

The area of hydroponic cultivation in Korea has rapidly expanded in recent years, raising concerns over the management of by-products, such as waste plant residues and spent growing media. Despite the increase in hydroponic cultivation, studies of the treatment and recycling of plant residues and growing media remain limited, necessitating the development of sustainable disposal and utilization methods. This study aims to evaluate the chemical characteristics of paprika plant residues generated after hydroponic cultivation and assess their potential for conversion into solid fuels, thereby proposing sustainable utilization strategies. Plant residues were collected from six farms across the country and analyzed for pesticide residues, heavy metals, inorganic components, and for their solid fuel quality. The analysis revealed that certain pesticide residues exceeded the permissible limits set by domestic and international standards, with zinc (Zn) levels also surpassing the acceptable thresholds in some samples. Conversely, the residues contained high levels of essential inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), indicating their potential for use as compost or soil amendments. Although the lower heating value, moisture content, and ash content of the residues did not meet the standard solid fuel quality criteria, the high biomass content suggests that they could be effectively utilized as solid fuel with additional pre-drying treatments. These findings indicate that paprika plant residue, when properly pretreated and managed, can be repurposed using various resource recovery methods, thereby contributing to agricultural waste reduction and the development of sustainable agricultural systems.

Keywords
biomass
by-products
heavy metals
pesticide residues
solid fuel quality
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국원예학회
  • Journal Title :Horticultural Science and Technology
  • Journal Title(Ko) :원예과학기술지
  • Volume : 44
  • No :1
  • Pages :93-104
  • Received Date : 2025-09-10
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-15
  • Accepted Date : 2025-10-21
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7235/HORT.20250073
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