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2025 Vol.34, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original Articles

Exploration of Recycling Pathways for Coir Spent Substrate to Establish Recycling for By-Products of Protected Cultivation

시설재배 부산물 재활용 방안 확립을 위한 코이어 폐배지 재활용 경로 탐색

Giju Eoh1
,
Haeyeong Na2
,
Jungu Lee3
,
Jongseok Park45*
어 기주1
,
나 해영2
,
이 준구3
,
박 종석45*
1Graduate Student, Department of Bio-AI convergence, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
2Professor, Department of Horticulture and Forestry, College of Life and Medical Sciences, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
3Professor, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
4Professor, Department of Bio-AI convergence, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
5Professor, Department of Horticulture Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
1충남대학교 바이오AI융합학과 대학원생
2국립목포대학교 생명·의과학대학 원예산림학부 교수
3전북대학교 농업생명과학대학 원예학과 교수
4충남대학교 바이오AI융합학과 교수
5충남대학교 농업생명과학대학 원예학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2025. pp. 582-587
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Abstract

In recent years, the expansion of protected cultivation areas has led to substantial increase in by-products, including coir spent substrate. Coir is widely used as an eco-friendly growing medium. However, its recycling after use is limited due to interpretational differences in government regulations, necessitating the rational recycling pathway. Fertilization represents the most cost-effective option. While the Ministry of Environment classified coir spent substrate as “other vegetable remnants (51－17－29)”, allowing for fertilization, the Rural Development Administration does not recognize it as a raw material under the Fertilizer Control Act, creating institutional limitations. This study estimated the annual generation of coir spent substrate in tomato cultivation farms and analyzed its inorganic and heavy metal contents. The results showed that coir spent substrate contained abundant inorganic components, including Ca 11.1g·kg-1, K 3.61g·kg-1, Mg 2.02g·kg-1, P 1.31g·kg-1, Mn 0.44g·kg-1, Si 0.188g·kg-1, and B 0.037g·kg-1. The contents of heavy metals including Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb and Hg were all confirmed to be below the allowable limits. Additionally, based on national statistics, the annual generation of coir spent substrate in tomato cultivation farms in korea was estimated at approximately 49,000 tons. These results suggest that the large amount of coir spent substrate generated poses a low environmental risk and contains abundant inorganic components and have high potential as a fertilizer raw material. It could become an effective recycling system for coir spent substrate if the recycling pathway proposed in this study is institutionally supported through consensus among stakeholders.

Keywords
fertilization
heavy metals
inorganic components
wastes control act

최근 시설 재배 면적이 확대되면서 코이어 배지를 포함한 부산물이 대량 발생하고 있다. 코이어 배지는 친환경적 배지로 널리 사용되지만, 재배 종료 후 발생하는 폐배지는 부처들 간 해석 차이로 재활용이 제한되고 있어, 합리적인 재활용 경로 설정이 필요하다. 비료화는 가장 경제적인 재활용 방안이며, 환경부는 코이어 폐배지를 ‘그 밖의 식물성 잔재물(51-17-29)’로 분류하여 비료화가 가능하나, 농촌진흥청 ｢비료관리법｣에서는 원료로 설정되어 있지 않아 제도적 한계가 존재한다. 본 연구는 국내 토마토 시설 재배 농가를 대상으로 코이어 폐배지의 발생량을 추정하고, 무기성분 및 중금속 함량을 분석하였다. 무기성분 분석 결과 평균 칼슘 11.1g·kg-1, 칼륨 3.61g·kg-1, 마그네슘 2.02g·kg-1, 인 1.31g·kg-1, 망간 0.44g·kg-1, 규소 0.188g·kg-1, 붕소 0.037g·kg-1로 나타나 무기성분이 풍부하게 검출되었으며, 니켈, 구리, 아연, 비소, 카드뮴, 납, 수은 중금속은 모두 허용 기준치 이하로 확인되었다. 또한 통계자료를 기반으로 국내 토마토 재배에서 연간 약 4만 9천톤의 코이어 폐배지가 발생하는 것으로 추정되었다. 이러한 결과는 대량으로 발생하는 코이어 폐배지가 환경적 위해성이 낮고, 다량의 무기성분을 함유하여 비료 원료로 재활용할 수 있음을 시사한다. 본 연구에서 제시한 재활용 경로가 향후 이해관계자 간 의견 수렴을 통해 제도적 보완된다면, 코이어 폐배지의 원활한 재활용 방안이 될 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
무기성분
비료화
중금속
폐기물 관리법
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society for Bio-Environment Control
  • Publisher(Ko) :(사)한국생물환경조절학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Bio-Environment Control
  • Journal Title(Ko) :생물환경조절학회지
  • Volume : 34
  • No :4
  • Pages :582-587
  • Received Date : 2025-09-23
  • Revised Date : 2025-10-23
  • Accepted Date : 2025-10-29
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.12791/KSBEC.2025.34.4.582
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