Abstracts of Nippon Dojo-Hiryogaku Zasshi, Vol. 89 (2018) No. 3

Original Paper

Effect of groundwater table control by a farm-oriented enhancing aquatic system on yield and appearance quality of rice under high air temperature during grain filling in heavy-clay large-scale paddy fields

Yoshihiro Kaneta, Kazuhiro Tanino, Fumiaki Takakai, Takashi Sato and Kentaro Yasuda

Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University

In a farm-oriented enhancing aquatic system (FOEAS) paddy field and a conventional heavy-clay paddy field, we investigated the effect of high temperature during the ripening period on the yield and appearance quality of rice. The groundwater level of the FOEAS paddy field during the ripening period was maintained at 10–30 cm below the soil surface, while in the conventional paddy field, surface water was completely drained, remaining 30–50 cm below the soil surface, in late July. The sap bleeding rate of the plants in the FOEAS paddy high-temperature field was significantly higher than that in the conventional high-temperature paddy field. The difference was caused mainly by the increase in water uptake from soil below a depth of 12 cm in the FOEAS paddy field. Panicle temperature in the FOEAS paddy field was significantly lower than that in the conventional paddy field. The incidence of cracked, milky-white, and white-based rice kernels in the FOEAS paddy high-temperature field was significantly lower than that in the conventional high-temperature paddy field. In addition, the yield of rice in the FOEAS paddy field was higher than that in the conventional paddy field due to increases in the ripening rate and the thousand grain weight. The soil penetration resistance value in the FOEAS paddy field was equal to that in the conventional paddy field, confirming that the bearing capacity of the soil is suitable for machine harvest.

The results indicated that FOEAS in heavy-clay large-scale paddy fields is effective for both conducting large-scale mechanical work and maintaining the appearance quality of rice under high air temperature during grain filling.

Key words: appearance quality of rice, bearing capacity of soil, farm-oriented enhancing aquatic system, heavy-clay large-scale paddy fields, high air temperature

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 197–203)

Original Paper

Effects of nitrate and moisture content in nutrient-accumulated soil on growth and nutrient uptake in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Yu Hayami^a,b and Morihiro Maeda^b

^a Kochi Agricultural Research Center

^b Okayama University

In greenhouses cultivating eggplant in Kochi, Japan, a lengthening of productive growing periods and concomitant reduction in the frequency of desalting irrigation during fallow periods had resulted in nutrient accumulation in the soil. Excess nitrate in soil may suppress water and nutrient uptake by eggplant, resulting in unsatisfactory plant growth. The objective of this study was to assess rootstock eggplant growth and nutrient uptake under different soil NO₃⁻-N and moisture content conditions in nutrient-accumulated soil.

Pot experiments in the glasshouse were carried out at three soil NO₃⁻-N concentrations (13.4, 26.8, and 40.2 mmol_c kg⁻¹) and three levels of soil moisture (41%, 51%, and 61% of maximum water-holding capacity, designated as ‘dry,’ ‘middle,’ and ‘wet,’ respectively).

The height of the eggplant was more in the treatment with lower NO₃⁻-N concentration. High soil NO₃⁻-N reduced eggplant stem diameters and shoot dry matter weight more distinctly in the ‘middle’ treatment than in the ‘wet’ treatment; this is because other ion concentrations are also raised in soil treated with high NO₃⁻-N, resulting in reduced water uptake and disturbance of nitrogen metabolism. Suppression of eggplant growth due to high soil NO₃⁻-N can be mitigated by maintaining soil moisture at a level high enough to keep the nitrate concentration below 37 mmol_c L⁻¹ in nutrient-accumulated soil.

Key words: nitrogen metabolism, pot experiment, rootstock, soil solution

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 204–212)

Original Paper

Optimal rate of nitrogen fertilizer application for organic onion farming in Hokkaido

Michihiko Sakurai, Masami Sakaguchi ^† and Akihiro Furudate ^‡

Central Agricultural Experiment Stations, Hokkaido Research Organization

^†Present address: Dohnan Agric. Exp. Stn., Hokkaido Research Organization

^‡Present address: Tokachi Agric. Exp. Stn., Hokkaido Research Organization

To increase the yield of organic onion (Allium cepa L.) crops in Hokkaido, we conducted experiments on application of organic nitrogen fertilizers. The crop was cultivated under conditions of varying range of soil nitrogen fertility under the Japanese Agricultural Standard of Organic Agricultural Products. The main results obtained are as follows: (1) The onion yield was significantly higher after a single nitrogen fertilizer application in spring than after a split application (two-thirds applied in the previous autumn and one-third applied in the spring of the current year). (2) There was no difference in onion yield when organic fertilizers with nitrogen content of ≥40 g kg⁻¹ were used for the single fertilizer application in spring. However, the onion yield was lower after application of fertilizers with nitrogen content of approximately 20 g kg⁻¹ than after application of fertilizers with nitrogen content of ≥40 g kg⁻¹. (3) We used the following formula to calculate the rate of nitrogen fertilizer application essential to obtain 44 Mg ha⁻¹, the target yield of organic onion: (optimum nitrogen uptake − nitrogen uptake without nitrogen)/nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate. Using this formula, the rate of nitrogen fertilizer application was calculated to be 140 kg ha⁻¹ when the soil nitrogen concentration was 50–70 mg kg⁻¹ (according to the soil nitrogen diagnosis standard determined using the hot-water extraction method). When the soil nitrogen fertility was lower or higher than this range, it could be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the rate of nitrogen fertilizer application by 40 kg ha⁻¹.

Key words: hot-water extractable nitrogen, onion, organic farming, rate of nitrogen fertilizer application, single fertilizer application in spring

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 213–219)

Original Paper

A rational fertilizer application method for edible lotus root cultivation based on yield and nutrient absorption properties

Hiroshi Otabe ^† and Tsuyoshi Iimura

Ibaraki Prefectural Agricultural Center, Horticulture Institute

^†Present address: Ibaraki Prefectural South Agricultural Office

A rational fertilization method is required in the cultivation of lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera) for its stable production and the reduction of nutrient load in lakes and marshes. In this study, we established a rational and systematic method of fertilizer application for the cultivation of lotus roots. The standard yield from a given field was calculated as an average value of the yield per unit area for the past three years. The amount of nutrient absorption by lotus roots was then estimated on the basis of standard yield. Based on the results of a previous study, we experimentally formulated a specialized fertilizer that is compatible with the nutrient absorption properties of lotus roots. Using these processes, we established and verified a rational fertilization method for the cultivation of lotus roots. The yields and quality of lotus roots that were obtained using this fertilization method were comparable to those obtained using the standard fertilization method. This result indicates the validity of the fertilizer application method developed by us.

Key words: lotus root, yield, nutrient absorption, standard yield, fertilizer application

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 220–226)

Note

Factors on soil pH decrease in sandy upland field soil application with livestock manure

Yoshitaka Nakamura, Ayumi Tsunekawa ^† and Masahiro Kasuya

Aichi Prefecture Agricultural Research Center

^†Present address: Owari Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Office

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 227–231)

Current topic

Reduction of the amount of chemical fertilizer to cabbage–maize crop system in a yellow soil upland field by continuous application of compost

Masaki Tsuji ^†, Taku Yamamoto, Masahiro Kasuya ^‡ and Ryouji Suzuki ^‡

Aichi Agricultural Research Center Higashi-Mikawa Agricultural Institute

^†Aichi Agricultural Production Division

^‡Aichi Agricultural Research Center

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 232–236)

Current topic

Abnormal early ripening of wheat: is soil environment and leaves bronzing related to wheat hagare symptoms?

Atsushi Kamata, Kunio Maruoka and Haruhito Yamazaki

Saitama Agricultural Technology Research Center

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 237–242)

Lecture

9. Future development of monitoring-based material dynamics at regional scale

Sonoko D. Kimura

Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Humboldt University of Berlin

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 243–248)

Miscellaneous

Nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen load to the environment during food production to consumption processes: importance of and future direction for utilizing effects of consumer behavior

Sadao Eguchi^a, Hideaki Shibata^b, Azusa Oita^c, Junko Shindo^d, Naruo Matsumoto^e, Akinori Mori^f, Yasuhiro Nakajima^{a, g}, Kei Asada^a, Motoko Shimura^h, Kentaro Hayashi^a and Toshiro Nakatsujiⁱ

^a Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO

^b Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University

^c Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University

^d Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi

^e Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences

^f Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO

^g Advanced Analysis Center, NARO

^h Western Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO

ⁱ Hokkaido Research Organization, Agricultural Research Department, Kitami Agricultural Experiment

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 249–259)

Miscellaneous

How do we use ‘microbial power’?: toward applications to the field

Takeshi Watanabe^a, Koki Toyota^b, Natsuko Nakayama^c, Ryo Ohtomo^d, Norikuni Oka^d, Kiyofumi Mori^e, Tomoyoshi Hashimoto^f and Noriaki Momma^g

^a Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University

^b Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

^c National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea

^d Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, NARO

^e Osumi Branch, Kagoshima Prefectural Institute for Agricultural Development

^f Central Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO

^g Institute for Horticultural Plant Breeding

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 260–265)

Miscellaneous

Plant nutritional physiology for low-input agriculture

Kyoko Higuchi^a, Kensuke Okada^b, Yuji Suzuki^c, Jun Wasaki^d, Naoki Yamaji^e, Kyoko Miwa^f and Hiroyuki Koyama^g

^a Faculty Applied Biological Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture

^b Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo

^c Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University

^d Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University

^e IPSR, Okayama University

^f Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University

^g Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 266–271)

Miscellaneous

Interview to Prof. Emer. Koji Wada – for international decade of soils

Syuntaro Hiradate, Yuki Mori and Shin-Ichiro Wada ^†

Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University

^†Present address: Astec Co., Ltd.

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 272–275)

Miscellaneous

13th international conference of the East and Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies (13th ESAFS)

Junta Yanai^a, Ryusuke Hatano^b and Kazuyuki Inubushi^c

^a Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University

^b Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

^c Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 276)

Miscellaneous

Exhibitors report of EcoPro 2017: International Exhibition on Environment and Energy

Yusuke Takata^a, Keiko Mori^b, Ikuko Akahane^a and Sou Sugihara^c

^a Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO

^b Saitama Museum of Rivers

^c Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 277)

Miscellaneous

Junta Yanai

Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 89, 278–279)