Agriculture and Science 2024/07

Useful when applying fertilizer by the seedling box.
　　　　　　Quick Reference and Points for Adjustment of Fertilizer Application

Kumamoto Prefectural Agricultural Research Center, Production Environment Research Institute
Soil Environment Laboratory
　Shunsuke Kakiuchi

Introduction

　Seedling box whole-box fertilization is a low-cost and labor-saving technique that has been widely used by a wide range of rice farmers, both full-time and part-time. Recently, as farmland intensification progresses in Kumamoto Prefecture, this technique has been attracting attention as a technique for reducing production costs and labor hours, and has been introduced by large-scale land-use type farmers.
　Seedling box full fertilizer application is divided into layered fertilization and box bottom fertilization according to the position of fertilizer application (Figure 1). In the former, the order is from the bottom: bed soil, seedling box, seed rice, and soil cover; in the latter, the order is from the bottom: seedling box, bed soil, seed rice, and soil cover. These seeding, fertilizer application, and soil insertion processes are performed automatically, for example, in the case of layered fertilizer application, as shown in Figure 2.
Fertilizer seeding equipment is often used.
　In practice, when using automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment at the production site, the amount of fertilizer to be applied per seedling box is calculated based on the amount of nitrogen per 10a required for rice plant growth and the number of seedling boxes, the amount of fertilizer to be applied per seedling box and the amount of bed soil per box are determined, the automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment is adjusted, and the fertilizer application work begins. The automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment is then adjusted before starting the fertilizer application process. However, in this series of operations, the machine (fertilizer hopper) must be adjusted frequently while determining the amount of fertilizer and soil to be applied.
This has led to loss of time and failure of seedling management in some cases.
　Here, we have summarized the key points of fertilizer application when using automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment to apply fertilizer to seedling boxes1) .

2. Testing Method

(1) Creation of a quick reference table for determining the amount of soil medium according to the amount of fertilizer applied.

　Seedlings were raised in a greenhouse for paddy rice seedlings at the Kumamoto Agricultural Research Center in 2021. Seedling boxes for young seedlings (inner diameter: 58 cm long × 28 cm wide × 3 cm deep) were used. Fertilizer used was seedling box Makase N400-120 (manufactured by Jacam Agri). Artificial granulated soil (four brands) commonly used in Kumamoto Prefecture was used as seedling medium for rice seedlings. Since the specific gravity of all the soils was about 1.0, Hinokuni bedding soil (manufactured by Ryoto Fertilizer Co., Ltd.) was used in the tests.
　In a test to determine the amount of soil according to the amount of fertilizer left in the seedling box, the amount of seed rice was 100 g in terms of dry rice, and the amount of soil cover was fixed at 1,200 g to adequately cover this rice. The amount of seed rice was 100 g in terms of dry rice, and the amount of soil cover was fixed at 1,200 g to adequately cover the rice. The positions of fertilizer application in the seedling box were layered and at the bottom of the box, and the weight of bedding soil that could be filled into the seedling box was investigated according to each amount of fertilizer applied.
　To clarify the amount of water retention per seedling box at each fertilizer dose, the weight of the seedling box was measured before and after seedling box irrigation. The weight of each seedling box before irrigation (including the weight of the seedling box) was measured after the seedling boxes were filled with seedling medium and seedling box remnants. The weight of seedlings after irrigation was measured after the seedling boxes had been filled with seedling bedding medium or seedling box remake, irrigated, covered with soil, irrigated again, and left on a sunoko for 120 seconds after gravity water had fully flowed down. The amount of water retention was determined from the difference in the weight of the seedling boxes before and after irrigation.

(2) Investigation of the actual amount of fertilizer applied to seedling boxes in an automatic seeding and fertilizer application system

　We compared the adjusted amount of fertilizer applied to empty seedling boxes with the actual amount applied to seedling boxes using automatic seeding and fertilizer application equipment used by three large-scale rice seedling management organizations in the prefecture. The adjusted amount of fertilizer applied to empty seedling boxes without soil was used as the adjusted value, while the actual amount of fertilizer applied to seedling boxes under actual seeding conditions with bedding and covering soil was used as the measured value. The adjusted value was the average of 10 boxes, and the measured value was obtained by dividing the weight of the actual boxes by the number of boxes created with the same fertilizer amount setting. When measuring the actual values, the "losses" that were scattered when the boxes were filled into the fertilizer hopper were also included.

Results and Discussion

(1) Creation of a quick reference table for determining the amount of bedding and covering corresponding to the amount of fertilizer applied.

　To determine the appropriate amount of bedding and covering soil per seedling box for the amount of fertilizer applied per box of seedlings, a quick table was prepared according to the method described in the test method (Table 1).

　In Table 1, the weight of seedling medium was 2,700 g when conventional seedling boxes (inner diameter: 58 cm long × 28 cm wide × 3 cm deep) were used with a weight of 580 g and 1,200 g of soil cover. When the amount of fertilizer applied to the seedling box was increased, the weight of the bedding medium that could be filled into the seedling box gradually decreased, and a relationship of "weight of seedling box + weight of bedding medium = 2,700 g" was generally established.
　Therefore, if this chart is used during fertilizer application and seeding of seedling boxes, the number of seedlings per box can be calculated.
It is considered a useful tool that can instantly determine the appropriate amount of bedding for the amount of fertilizer applied.
　As shown in Table 1, the amount of water retention per box decreased as the amount of fertilizer applied to the seedling box increased, but this is because the seedling box itself has almost no water retention capacity, and it is thought that the amount of bedding and covering soil decreases as the amount of fertilizer applied to the seedling box increases, which in turn decreases the amount of water retention. This relationship is the same regardless of the fertilizer application position, but as shown in Figure 3, the water retention capacity of the box-bottom fertilizer is always higher even when the same amount of fertilizer and soil are applied, suggesting that it is easier to maintain water retention during seedling growth when the box-bottom fertilizer is applied. This may be one of the reasons why box-bottom fertilization is recommended2) for seedling growth at a fertilizer rate of 1 kg/box or more per seedling box.

(2) Key points for fertilizer application when using automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment

A survey was conducted on the "leave it to the seedling box" fertilizer application system at three large-scale management organizations practicing whole seedling box fertilization in the prefecture.
　The results showed that the fertilizer hoppers installed in the automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment used in each farm were from different manufacturers. In addition, the actual amount of fertilizer applied to each seedling box was 4 to 9% higher than the adjusted value of the fertilizer hopper, regardless of the manufacturer of the automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment used. This is because when the fertilizer hopper is adjusted in advance, the amount of fertilizer applied is determined through empty seedling boxes, but during the actual seeding operation, the boxes are filled with soil, which slows the speed of movement of the seedling boxes due to the greater weight load on the lane power unit of the fertilizer application and seedling seeding equipment, resulting in a slightly higher amount of fertilizer per box filled per seedling box. This was thought to increase the amount of filling per seedling box.

Summary

　We have developed a quick reference table to quickly determine the appropriate amount of bedding soil corresponding to the amount of fertilizer to be applied to each seedling box using an automatic seeding and fertilizer application system. Using this quick reference table, the amount of bedding soil corresponding to the amount of fertilizer applied per box can be easily determined, which is expected to improve the efficiency and speed of the fertilizer application work.
　In addition, a comparison of the adjusted amount of fertilizer applied by the automatic fertilizer application hopper and the actual amount applied by the seedling box-assigned fertilizer hopper for the automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment actually used in each large-scale operation revealed that the actual amount of fertilizer applied was 4 to 9% higher than the adjusted value because of the weight of the medium during actual operation. To prevent this, it was considered necessary to adjust the amount of fertilizer applied while applying a weight load similar to the weight of the seedling box plus the soil.
　However, "errors" in the amount of fertilizer applied per box have a negative impact on the growth of rice plants, and also increase the cost of fertilizer application and environmental impact. In particular, recently, oceanic runoff of coated fertilizer shells out of the paddy field system has become a problem, and excessive fertilizer application must be avoided.
　In order to solve such problems and promote the use of total fertilizer application to rice seedling boxes, it would be effective to quickly determine the appropriate amount of fertilizer to be applied to each seedling box and the corresponding amount of soil, and to smoothly manage seedling cultivation by using the quick guide table proposed here.

References

1）Matsumori, Makoto Optimization of the whole amount of fertilizer application to paddy rice seedling boxes using automatic fertilizer application and seeding equipment.
(2) JCAM Agri (Inc.) Handbook for using "Seedling Box Makase" (Tohoku Edition). 2014.

Changes in Soil Environment and Future Measures in Fukui Prefecture

Jcam Agri Corporation West Japan Branch
　Akira Tanigawa, Chief Technical Consultant

Introduction.

　The United Nations designated 2015 as the International Year of Soil, based on the view that it is essential to sustainably conserve soil to ensure stable food production and safety and to maintain ecosystems to cope with global population growth and other challenges. In response, the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS) has designated the decade through 2024 as the International Decade of Soils with the aim of "turning our attention to soils, the silent comrades of humanity.
　In Japan, JA Zen-Noh launched a soil growing campaign in 1970, promoting "harmonious soil growing" based on soil diagnosis, and in 1971, the first Saturday in October was designated as "Soil Day," a pioneering effort in the world. Subsequently, the Soil Promotion Councils were established at the national and prefectural levels with the aim of contributing to the stability of agricultural production through soil fertility. As a member of the secretariat, I also held training sessions and mutual encouragement meetings in cooperation with the prefectural economic federation and the central association, and conducted patrols to promote soil cultivation throughout the prefecture.
　In 1984, the Soil fertility Enhancement Act was enacted, establishing a basic policy for soil management to enhance soil fertility.
The first time the company was listed on the list, it was listed on the first section of the list.
　In the history of postwar soil surveys, soil fertility cultivation projects and basic soil fertility conservation surveys (1959-1974) were conducted on soil, which is the foundation for increasing food production, to clarify the properties of paddy and field soils throughout Japan, and to identify factors that inhibit productivity for each soil category and type and measures for improvement. Subsequently, the government conducted a study on appropriate soil management and land use systems.
The company conducts fixed-point surveys over time to identify such factors as the following.
　In addition to the above, the prefectural government conducted a prefecture-wide soil conservation survey project from 1992 to 1995 as its own measure. In addition, a prefecture-wide soil analysis was conducted from 2009 to 2015, led by the Federation of Economic Organizations, but no prefecture-wide efforts have been made since then.
None.
　Since 1970, when the Basic Survey on Land Conservation was compiled, the environment surrounding agriculture in the prefecture, especially in rice paddies, has changed drastically. The first is the decrease in the number of farmers, the expansion of rice production adjustment and the use of paddy fields, the second is the change in rice production from high-yield to quality-oriented, the third is technological innovation such as fertilizer mechanization, the fourth is the development of production infrastructure, and the environment is changing due to air and water pollution prevention measures and global warming. Here, I would like to discuss future soil management measures by taking a multifaceted view of the changes in the soil environment in this prefecture.

1. decrease in paddy rice acreage and increase in utilization of paddy fields

　Fukui Prefecture has one of the highest ratios of rice to agricultural income in Japan, and the adjustment of rice production came as a great shock to farmers. In addition, there were many poorly drained rice paddies, and many issues such as crop selection, land use, and yield potential were piling up.
　To solve the problem, a "four-block crop rotation" based on community agriculture, in which "the community protects its own farmland", was promoted (Figure 1). Specifically, based on the grouping of rice varieties and the planting of different rice varieties, wheat, soybeans, buckwheat, and fodder crops were positioned as priority crops, and a year-round crop rotation was implemented by rationally combining barley with soybeans and buckwheat as the succeeding crop.

　As a result, the area of paddy rice in 2020 was 25,100 ha, a large decrease of about 60% compared to 42,600 ha in 1975 due to the increase in the production adjustment area, but the area of barley, the main crop of shifting crops, increased year by year to 4,790 ha in 2020, and the total area of soybeans and buckwheat after barley was 4,120 ha. The total area of soybeans and buckwheat after barley is 4,120 ha, and the annualization rate after barley is 86%, ranking first in Japan for the area of six-row barley and third for buckwheat (Tables 1 and 2).
　Therefore, the paddy utilization rate in this prefecture is as high as 105% (in 2020) compared to 92% in Japan, 93% in Toyama Prefecture, and 88% in Ishikawa Prefecture.
　Currently, the percentage of area under shifting cultivation is 36%, a large increase from 2.9% in 1975, and this change in paddy field use is thought to have had no small effect on the physical and chemical properties of the soil.

2. decrease in the number of farmers and increase in business scale through farmland accumulation

(1) Decrease in the number of farmers

　Although the prefecture is not blessed with abundant sunlight in winter, it has been engaged in agriculture centering on rice cultivation, taking advantage of the availability of abundant water.
　In 2020, the number of farm households decreased by 81% from 56,950 in 1975 to 10,546, due to the aging of the farming population, farmers moving to other industries, and the progress of mechanization. In addition, the percentage of key farmers under the age of 60 is low at 8.8% (22% in Japan, according to the 2015 Census of Agriculture and Forestry), and the aging of the farming population is continuing.

(2) Scale expansion through farmland accumulation

　In 1975, the majority of farmers were small-scale farmers, with approximately 70% of their farms less than 1.0 ha in size. Subsequently, in order to secure farm incomes, farmers shifted cultivation to other areas, and organized their production in village units, working together and cooperating with other farmers. Furthermore, with the enactment of the Law for the Promotion of Strengthening Agricultural Management Infrastructure, the number of certified farmers and agricultural cooperative corporations increased, accelerating the accumulation of farmland.
　Currently, the main bearers in the prefecture are corporate organizations and large-scale individual farmers that have developed from the community farming that was triggered by the land use of shifting crops, as well as mega-farms with a total area of over 100 hectares, and low-cost farming that takes advantage of economies of scale has progressed. The farmland accumulation rate in 2020 is about 68%, reflecting the actual situation of large-scale farming, where 10% of the farmland is managed by 10% of the farmers (Table 3).
　However, looking at individual corporate organizations, many of them are over 70 years old, and the expected successors of the organizations are only able to engage in farm work on holidays due to the extension of employment periods of the companies, etc. Some organizations are in danger of survival due to the weakening of their labor force.
　This decrease and aging of farmers and the increase in the scale of farmland accumulation have promoted rationalization of management, including lower costs, but they may also have had some impact on soil management and the environment.

3. change in paddy rice varieties - from quantity to quality

　In the 1960s, however, the number of early maturing rice varieties increased due to socioeconomic factors such as the shift to dual-income farming and incentive programs, as well as advances in manure management technology. In the 1970s, when the problem of rice overabundance came to the fore, a voluntary rice distribution system was established, focusing on high-quality rice, and rice varieties shifted from yield to quality and eating quality. Among these varieties, Koshihikari, a variety bred in the prefecture and highly evaluated in the market, became the center of promotion and diffusion, and in 2005, Koshihikari with high price and small amount of fertilizer accounted for 69% of the rice planted in the prefecture (Table 4). The spread of Koshihikari was the result of the tireless efforts of those involved in controlling growth by interrupting nitrogen and improving the method of applying fertilizer with an emphasis on ear fertilizer.
　As the oversupply of rice continued to increase, price and affordability became the evaluation criteria, and the need for low-priced, high-fertilizer-use Hanaechizen and Akisakari varieties increased. Currently, the main varieties are Hanaechizen, Koshihikari, and Akisakari.
In 2016, Ichihomare, which has good taste and high temperature tolerance, was bred for full-scale production.
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　On the other hand, one of the characteristics of paddy rice cultivation in this prefecture is the spread of direct seeding technology, which has become established as a low-cost, labor-saving, and season-dispersing paddy rice cultivation technique.

4. changes in fertilizer and fertilizer application standards

(1) Changes in fertilizer components and fertilizer application to Koshihikari

　Fertilizers distributed in the prefecture shifted from single fertilizers such as ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, lime superphosphate, and potassium chloride in the 1960s to compound fertilizers and chemical compound fertilizers in the 1950s. Subsequently, the development of side-row application machines and slow-release fertilizers progressed, and the spread of one-shot basal fertilizers increased rapidly against the backdrop of a production structure with an extremely high percentage of dual-income farmers, and it is estimated that the spread ratio exceeded 95% in 2022.
　The ratio of NPK in fertilizers has changed from fertilizers with a slightly higher P content during the Showa period to the first half of the Heisei period to fertilizers with a higher N content in consideration of the amount of fertilizer used in side-row application machines and the price of fertilizer. In particular, since the 2008's, the spread of ecofertilizers with 20% organic content has increased rapidly in conjunction with the development of ecofarmers and the price of raw materials has skyrocketed, resulting in a further decrease in the PK ratio.
　Next, looking at the N fertilizer standard amount (Table 5) for Koshihikari, a major rice variety in the prefecture, we find that in the 1965's, the standard amount was about 10 kg/10a, mainly for base fertilizer, and in 1980, it was about 12 kg/10a with equal amounts of base and additional fertilizer, which was higher than today. In the midst of intensified crop rotation and high rice prices, more emphasis was placed on yield rather than quality, and farmers' strong desire to secure income was thought to have been behind this trend. Subsequently, due to progress in elucidating the growth characteristics of Koshihikari, such as its ability to fall over, and a change in emphasis on eating quality and taste, the standard amount of N fertilizer applied in 1996 was about 7 kg in total with a slightly higher ratio of additional fertilizer, a large decrease of about 66% from the 1980 level. Thus, the standard amount of N fertilizer application was influenced by the circumstances of rice producers and consumers at that time.
The changes in fertilizer application and fertilizer composition are thought to have been made in response to the needs of farmers and distributors. Naturally, these changes in fertilizer amounts and composition are expected to affect the soil environment.

(2) Actual conditions of fertilizer application, etc. in recent years

(2) Actual conditions of fertilizer application, etc. in recent years
　The N fertilizer application amounts (Table 6) for major varieties in this prefecture were calculated based on the planted area and the distribution volume of each fertilizer brand based on the annual fertilizer statistics provided by the Fukui Economic Federation (five-year average from FY 2008 to FY 2022).

　Koshihikari is at a low level of 6.5 kg, aiming for a high score in terms of eating quality and concern about downfall, while Hanaechizen and Akisakari are at a high level of 10 to 11 kg, aiming for higher yield. The diffusion rate of one-shot fertilizers is extremely high, estimated at about 95% based on the volume of fertilizers in circulation.
　Thus, appropriate nitrogen fertilization according to the rice variety is recommended, but recently there have been some cases of increased fertilization. For example, as shown in Table 7, a 20% reduction of nitrogen fertilizer was usually applied to post-wheat paddy rice until about 20 years ago, but the number of farmers who do not reduce fertilizer application is clearly increasing. Even when a batch application of basal fertilizer is used, some farmers are now applying additional fertilizer around the time of ear formation. This is thought to be because a decrease in soil nitrogen fertility due to shifting cultivation is one of the reasons for reduced yields, and more farmers are increasing nitrogen fertilizer from the viewpoint of securing yields.

　On the other hand, the amount of soil improvement materials applied in recent years (Table 8) has been decreasing year by year against the backdrop of soaring prices and labor shortages, and in 2022 it was 23.4 kg/10a, 63% of the amount applied in 2015. The decrease in the amount of soil improvement materials applied is an important issue, since the soil in this prefecture is originally low in silicic acid content. Efficient application of silicic acid materials based on soil diagnosis needs to be promoted.

5. promote the development of production infrastructure

　Since the 1960's, the city has pioneered the development of agricultural land and drainage infrastructure, and as a result, the rate of field development is among the highest in Japan (the highest in all prefectures in 1993).
　Since then, in order to produce low-cost, high-quality rice and to improve the productivity of shifting crops such as wheat and soybeans, large plots have been developed, culverts have been drained to dry fields, and water facilities have been pipelined to promote efficient water use (in 2009, the prefecture ranked first in terms of the rate of field development in Japan).
　As a result, as of 2020, the maintenance rate within the agricultural zone is 35% for large plots, 431 TP3T for culverts, and 451 TP3T for pipelines, which has significantly transformed the agricultural land that serves as the production base (Table 9).

　On the other hand, since the 1960s, mechanization of agriculture has progressed rapidly. From cultivators, walking rice transplanters, and binders to high-performance tractors, riding rice transplanters, and combine harvesters, an integrated system of mechanization was established, and now we are entering the era of smart farming with large, high-tech agricultural machinery.
　Such modernization of the production infrastructure has promoted farmland accumulation and low-cost farming, and is thought to have significantly changed the soil environment (soil depth, tillage) and other factors.

6. decrease in the number of leaders in the field

　　Farm advisors and extension advisors play an important role in providing technical and managerial support to farmers by working in close cooperation with each other and directly with farmers to address issues faced by farmers in the field. The importance of these advisors has been increasing as the issues have diversified widely, from increasing food production when the system was launched to expanding horticultural production areas, fostering new farmers, and promoting mid-mountain and mountainous regions.
　However, as shown in Table 10, the number of farm advisors and extension advisors in 2020 will be 74% and 60% lower than in 1975, due in part to factors such as the merger of agricultural cooperatives and the shift to wide-area activities by extension workers. In addition, in order to respond quickly to increasingly sophisticated technologies and complex regional issues, it is becoming more important to have specialist-type advisors (e.g., for soil fertilizers) rather than all-around advisors.
　For this reason, it is necessary to move to a flexible system by enhancing the training system as well as self-training more than ever before. Now is the time when the enhancement of a guidance system without barriers is strongly required.

7. changes in air and water quality

　Since around 1970, air and water pollution has become increasingly serious, especially in urban areas, due to such phenomena as photochemical smog. As a result, environmental measures such as the Air Pollution Control Law and the Water Pollution Control Law have been enhanced in order to prevent air and water pollution. In addition, water quality standards for agriculture have been established to ensure that the concentration of water used in agriculture does not damage crops.
　As a result of these efforts, the environment has been greatly improved, and the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air (in Fukui City) in 2011 was significantly reduced by 5% compared to that in 1978 (Table 11). On the other hand, the silicic acid concentration in irrigation water in the 1990s was 63% lower than in the 1970s (Table 12).
　Thus, with the improvement of air and water quality and the concreting of irrigation channel slopes, the amount of nutrients supplied to rice paddies from nature has decreased considerably compared to the past.

8. progression of global warming

　The temperature in Japan is said to be increasing at a rate of 1.30°C per 100 years, and the average monthly temperature during the rice cultivation period in this prefecture (Table 13) shows that the temperature in the 2010s increased by about 1°C over 30 years compared to the 1980s. The temperatures for the three most recent years, starting from 2021, have been even hotter, partly due to this year's extremely hot summer.
　In the 2023 rice crop, the heat wave and other factors accelerated the growth stage of paddy rice, with Koshihikari rice earning its first ears at the end of July, resulting in a slightly lower yield than in normal years. In terms of quality, the percentage of first-class Koshihikari rice was 85%, partly due to the promotion of timely rice planting after May 15 as a measure against high temperatures, and the high temperature tolerant Ichihomare variety maintained a high level at 961 TP3T. The protein content of the main varieties at Sakai Farm was low (5.4-5.6), suggesting that the weather had a large influence, but the effect of soil fertility cannot be ignored.
　Global warming countermeasures will become even more important in the future, such as improving paddy rice varieties, soil fertility, water management, and fertilizer management.

9. changes in soil fertility

1) Changes in soil physicochemical properties over a 30-year period (results of the Soil Conservation Measures Survey Project)

　Since the basic survey on soil fertility conservation, the prefectural government has been implementing soil conservation measures for all prefectures for four years since 1992.
The survey project was conducted (7,434 soil cross-sectional surveys and 2,692 soil analyses).
　As a result, the following changes were observed in the soil compared to the time of the basic soil fertility conservation survey.
Soil type - Wet rice fields have decreased significantly and dry rice fields have increased.
The total depth of the crop was 13.5 cm, and the number of rice paddies exceeding the target depth of 15 cm was about 36% of the total, which was a decrease.
Soil Nutrients
　　Decrease in pH - 10% of respondents had a pH of 6 or higher, a significant decrease from the previous 60%.
　　Base substitution capacity - no significant change
　　Substitutable potassium - increased from previous
　　Dietary phosphoric acid - significantly increased compared to last time
　　Conjugate silicic acid - same as last time, high percentage below target
　It can be inferred that factors such as the introduction of rice paddy shifting cultivation, expansion of the area under shifting cultivation, field development, and progress in agricultural mechanization are involved in these changes compared to the time of the basic survey on land conservation.

(2) Fixed-point survey results from the Fukui Agricultural Experiment Station (conducted at five-year intervals since 1979)

The soil change from 1979 to 2008 shows dry rice paddies, decrease in pH, densification of the next surface layer, and soil fertility in terms of total nitrogen maintained at the current level.
...PK since the survey began (1979-2019)...
　　Dietary phosphoric acid - peaked at the beginning of the Heisei era and has been slightly decreasing year by year. 30% of the surveyed sites were below the 10 mg limit at the beginning of the 2022 era.
　　Substitutable potassium - peaked around 1995 and has been slightly decreasing year by year. 80% of surveyed sites had less than 20 mg of potassium at the beginning of 2025.
　This decrease in PK can be attributed to a decrease in the type of material applied and the amount of material applied.

(3) Results of soil analysis by the Economic Federation (10,000 soil samples for 7 years from 2009)

　Soil acidification and deficiencies of phosphoric and silicic acid were observed (Table 14). It is necessary to improve the nutrient status of the soil through steady soil cultivation and to continue to monitor the actual conditions.

10. 10. 50 years of paddy rice yields

　Reflecting on the annual slogan for rice cultivation in our province.
if we look at it from the point of view of ...
1969 - Producing the best rice in Japan in terms of yield
1975 - Soil building and 0123 Movement
1981 - Japan's best rice production Koshihikari 40%.
　　　　　planting and planting movement
1996 - Rebuilding Fukui Rice Upgrade Movement
2011 - Practice Mid-May Rice-Growing Campaign
2016 - High quality rice production to meet market needs
　　　　　scoop
2023 - Everyone's strength is the reputation of the production area and adherence to the basics
　　　　　Creating "Beautiful Fukui Rice
　The slogan shows the trend of the times, from increasing rice production to pursuing good taste, and the attitude toward rice cultivation in each era in response to the high temperature environment and consumers.
　The paddy rice yield in this prefecture used to be one of the highest in Japan in the 1965's with the "No. 1 rice production in Japan" campaign, but it has been lower than the national level since 1995 (Table 15).

　The rice yield was 500 kg/10a and the crop condition index was slightly poor at 98. Although the ratio of first-class rice ranked 7th in Japan (1st in Hokuriku) despite the extremely hot summer this year, the situation continues to be very severe for this prefecture, which is mainly engaged in rice production.
　The recent brown rice protein content (JA Fukui Sakai farm weather test) is lower than that in the middle of the Heisei period (Table 16). The most likely reason for this is the influence of weather, since the amount of fertilizer applied is almost the same, but it is also necessary to consider the influence of soil fertility.
　Once again, it is necessary to look at the soil, which is the foundation of production, and the environment surrounding it to make improvements. While the prefectural government and agricultural organizations are promoting the improvement of agricultural income and the expansion of rice exports, it is time for the engineers and people concerned in this prefecture to work together to clarify the factors behind the stagnation of paddy rice yields.

Conclusion

　Half a century has passed since the first soil survey, and agriculture in this prefecture has changed drastically in various aspects, including land use, bearers, environment, production materials such as fertilizers, and agricultural machinery.
　Against the backdrop of a decrease in the number of farmers, farmland accumulation has been progressing, and some advanced management organizations are now employing a large number of workers with business areas exceeding 100 ha. In the future, many organizations will be required to expand the scale and efficiency of their operations due to a further decrease in the number of farmers and an increase in the price of materials. On the other hand, it is no longer easy to obtain the high yield and quality of rice and soybeans as in the past due to the decrease in soil nutrients, soil fertility, and weather fluctuations.
　In recent years, sulfur deficiency in paddy rice has been occurring in many parts of Japan. When I was a student, it was thought that although there were excess disorders, there was no deficiency in Japan, which is a volcanic region, and that air pollution caused by sulfur oxides from the combustion of fossil fuels was an environmental problem. Even in such an era, textbooks of the time pointed out the possibility of sulfur deficiency eventually occurring if factory exhaust and wastewater emissions were regulated and sulfuric acid-based fertilizers were reduced. As the textbooks pointed out, sulfur deficiency disease was feared to occur even in this prefecture half a century later. The points made in the textbooks of the time were rich in objectivity and foresight.
　As mentioned at the outset, 2024 is the final year of the International Decade of Soils. The slogan is "Look to the soil, the silent comrade of mankind," but are we looking hard enough? The soil environment is steadily changing and slowly influencing the growth of crops. Our mission as engineers is to improve our technology with an objective viewpoint that does not overlook the slightest anomaly.
　Now is the time for major changes to be made, and it is time for the prefecture's testing and research institutes, extension advisors, farm advisors, and sales representatives of materials to strengthen their studies and work together with producers to create a rice-producing region with hope for the future.

No Soil - No. 33
　　World Soil in Peril - Part 3
　　　Soil degradation due to salt accumulation and its risks

Former Technical Advisor, Hokkaido Branch, Jcam Agri Co.
Teruo Matsunaka

　In the previous issue, we discussed that soil degradation is progressing around the world and that the main causes are inappropriate human activities, especially over-cultivation, over-grazing, and over-logging. The main cause of soil degradation is the accumulation of salts (salinization) in the soil caused by inappropriate agricultural management.

1. soil degradation and salt accumulation

　According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, 2021), in 2015, the world's agricultural land area (the sum of crop cultivated land (= all cultivated land) and permanently used grassland) was 4.76 billion ha, of which 34% was soil degraded due to human factors. Furthermore, the area of farmland has decreased by 110 million ha in the 15 years since 2000. On the other hand, the total cultivated land where crops are cultivated was 1.56 billion ha in 2015, an increase of 0.63 billion ha since 2000. Most of this increase, 0.49 billion ha, was in the area of land with irrigation facilities. As will be discussed below, this is an indication of the high productivity expectations of irrigated agriculture.
　However, 470 million hectares, or 31% of the total cultivated land, has been degraded by human factors (Table 1). In particular, irrigated cropland accounts for 48%, or 150 million hectares. The largest cause of soil degradation in irrigated croplands is salt accumulation. It is estimated that 1.5 million hectares of irrigated cropland (about the same area as Iwate Prefecture) are abandoned due to salinization every year in the world.

2. two types of salt accumulation v

　There are two types of salt accumulation in soil. One is salt accumulation that occurs naturally over a long period of time when the parent rock, which is the raw material of the soil, contains high concentrations of soluble salts, or when groundwater with high salt concentrations is present near the surface in arid regions. This is called primary salt accumulation. In this case, salts have naturally accumulated in the soil for a long time, and there is not much use of the land for agriculture. The other case we are considering here is salt accumulation caused by human factors such as inappropriate farmland management in irrigated agriculture, which is called secondary salt accumulation.
　According to FAO (2015), the world's land area is 12.78 billion ha, of which 6.5% (830 million ha) is salinized. However, it is estimated that more than 90% of this area is degraded due to primary salt accumulation (Figure 1). From the perspective of agricultural land use, the problem is soil degradation caused by secondary salt accumulation.

3. highly productive irrigated cropland

　Arid and semi-arid regions have little rainfall to begin with. Annual rainfall in the former is less than 200 mm, and in the latter, less than 800 mm in the summer rainy areas and less than 500 mm in the winter rainy areas. In other words, there are many sunny days in this region. With water and nutrients available, it is not surprising that crop productivity in this region is high, since crop photosynthesis is sufficiently enhanced. In fact, grain yields in irrigated croplands are about twice as high as those in rainfed croplands (FAO, 2011). Thus, although irrigated cropland accounts for only about 20% of the world's total cultivated land area (320 million ha in 2015, Table 1), it produces 40% of global cereal production (FAO, 2021).

4. soil salinization accelerated by coarse irrigated agriculture

　However, once irrigated agriculture is started in arid and semi-arid regions, sustainable agriculture cannot be established without securing irrigation water in the future. This is because rainfall is scarce in these regions.
　Even worse, these areas often have clay layers and other poorly permeable soil layers (impermeable layers) in the relatively shallow parts of the soil layers. When large amounts of irrigation water are poured into the soil with inadequate drainage channels, excess water stagnates in and around the farmland, causing water logging (waterlogging and overwatering) where the land is covered with water like a paddy field, or a temporary groundwater table is created in the soil. When soil is placed under such conditions, fine gaps (capillary pore spaces) in the soil connect the surface soil to the groundwater. When the excess water recedes and the topsoil appears, the water in the soil moves to the ground surface in this region where evaporation is very active. When water evaporates at the surface, dissolved nutrients and other salts remain in the surface layer of the soil and accumulate on the soil surface. Because there is little rainfall, the accumulated salts are washed away again and do not percolate into the soil. This accelerates the accumulation of salts in the soil.
　Therefore, the introduction of rough irrigated agriculture in these arid and semi-arid regions without proper drainage channels leads to the tragedy of salinization of the soil. As already mentioned in this series of articles, this should have been learned by mankind from the history of the decline of ancient civilizations. However, that lesson has not been applied.

Concerns associated with competition for water resources

　Water (freshwater) resources are used by many stakeholders, including industry and local residents as well as agriculture. The ratio of the total amount of freshwater withdrawn by all these parties to the total amount of renewable freshwater resources is called water stress. North Africa is in serious water scarcity with this ratio exceeding 100%, and the regions from Central Asia and the Middle East to Central Asia have water stress as high as 70-80% (FAO, AQUASTAT, 2021). In these regions, water withdrawals by the agricultural sector account for more than 75% of total water withdrawals, and irrigated agriculture itself contributes to increasing regional water deficits (Figure 2).

　In addition, approximately 40% of irrigated cropland is dependent on groundwater (FAO, 2011). Water depletion, especially in underground aquifers without water supply, is a serious concern. In a future era of water scarcity, competition for water resources between agriculture and other sectors is expected to intensify. Therefore, there is much concern about the sustainability of water supply to irrigated croplands. The high productivity of irrigated agriculture plays a major role in global food security. Therefore, the difficulty of sustaining the high crop productivity of irrigated agriculture is a concern for future food production.