The efficiency of volatile formaldehyde removal was assessed in 86 species of plants representing five general classes (ferns, woody foliage plants, herbaceous foliage plants, Korean native plants, and herbs). Phytoremediation potential was assessed by exposing the plants to gaseous formaldehyde (2.0 μL·L−1) in airtight chambers (1.0 m3) constructed of inert materials and measuring the rate of removal. Osmunda japonica, Selaginella tamariscina, Davallia mariesii, Polypodium formosanum, Psidium guajava, Lavandula spp., Pteris dispar, Pteris multifida, and Pelargonium spp. were the most effective species tested, removing more than 1.87 μg·m−3·cm−2 over 5 h. Ferns had the highest formaldehyde removal efficiency of the classes of plants tested with O. japonica the most effective of the 86 species (i.e., 6.64 μg·m−3·cm−2 leaf area over 5 h). The most effective species in individual classes were: ferns—Osmunda japonica, Selaginella tamariscina, and Davallia mariesii; woody foliage plants—Psidium guajava, Rhapis excels, and Zamia pumila; herbaceous foliage plants—Chlorophytum bichetii, Dieffenbachia ‘Marianne’, Tillandsia cyanea, and Anthurium andraeanum; Korean native plants—Nandina domestica; and herbs—Lavandula spp., Pelargonium spp., and Rosmarinus officinalis. The species were separated into three general groups based on their formaldehyde removal efficiency: excellent (greater than 1.2 μg·m−3 formaldehyde per cm2 of leaf area over 5 h), intermediate (1.2 or less to 0.6), and poor (less than 0.6). Species classified as excellent are considered viable phytoremediation candidates for homes and offices where volatile formaldehyde is a concern.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities for prisoners scheduled to be released on depression and salivary cortisol. 37 adult male prisoners were participated. Experimental group of 18members received a horticultural therapy program and control group of 19 members did not receive a horticultural therapy program. And this study was performed from 7 th of April 2012 to 12 th of July 2012. It was based on 'conceptual frame of psychological outcome model in horticultural therapy for prisoners scheduled for release'. As the results, depression level of the experimental group decreased significantly after horticultural therapy (p=0.006), while in control group was not showed significant (p=0.438). On salivary cortisol level of the experimental group decreased significantly after horticultural therapy (p=0.013), while it was not found significant difference in the control group (p=0.776). Therefore horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities could be utilized as appropriate rehabilitation program for decrease of depression and cortisol in prisoners scheduled to be released in future.

The objective of this study was to investigate the current situations of farms in South Korea which provide care farming activities in order to develop and settle care farms. A questionnaire that includes 60 questions about resources, clients, management, background of establishment, budget, manpower, organization, etc. was developed by the researchers. The survey was conducted by email and phone interview in the period of July to August, 2016. Five farms were participated in this study. As the results, each farm had a different size of land, about 744 -39,670 m 2 . The farms were classified by different types of farming activities such as cultivating horticultural crops or cultivating horticultural crops and raising animals. The background of farmers was health, special education, social welfare or professional farmer. The income sources were from care farming programs, educational program, and crop production. The participants in the care farm were children with or without disability, adolescents, adolescents with behavior problem, adults, adults with mental disability or developmental disability, mental illness, dementia, addict, etc. The major activities in care farms were plant cultivating, harvesting, garden maintenance, cooking by using harvest, crop processing, waling in the farm, caring for animals, dealing with farm work equipment, and farming activity with local residents, etc. The participation duration was 25% for one-day experience, less than two weeks in a week, and more than six months, respectively. To settle and develop care farming of South Korea, the concept, clients, operation, professional manpower, policy, support, etc. should be established.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze brain waves before and after the plant cutting procedure in 34 adult subjects. After plant cutting procedure, RT(Relative power of theta) decreased and RB(Relative power of beta), RMB(Relative power of mid beta), RHB(Relative power of high beta), RST(Ratio of SMR to theta spectrum), RMT(Ratio of mid beta to theta), and RSMT(Ratio of SMR~mid beta to theta) increased, while RA(Relative power of alpha), RLB(Relative power of low beta), and RG(Relative power of gamma) did not change significantly. The decrease in the RT indicator means that the cutting did not cause anxiety as a stable work rather than a high level task. Therefore, it is considered that the cutting activity can be applied to the subjects with low cognitive level such as children, dementia, and intellectual disabilities and those who should avoid the psychological burden due to the performance of the work. The increases in RB, RMB, and RHB indicators mean a state of mental awakening, inducing concentration similar to meditation. Therefore, the activity of cutting can be applied to people who use psychological energy in daily life, psychological confusion, excessive unnecessary thought, troublesome problems. The increases in the RST, RMT, and RSMT indicators mean an increase in concentration. Therefore, it is possible to apply the cutting activity for the purpose of strengthening the attention and intensifying induction. The results of this study are meaningful that it was confirmed that the cutting activity could induce the brain to be awakened by inducing concentration through conscious activities without giving an intellectual anxiety or psychological burden.