Agriculture and Science 2021/1

Toward the Creation of a "New Normal

Jcam Agri Co.
Noriaki Tashiro General Manager, Sales Administration Div.

　Happy New Year!
　At the beginning of the year 2021, I wish all of you who read this issue of Agriculture and Science a happy and prosperous new year.
　Last year, the worldwide spread of the new coronavirus had a major impact on our lives. New lifestyles such as avoiding the "three densities," wearing masks, and disinfecting hands were introduced, as well as new work styles such as telework and remote conferencing.

　In the agricultural sector, the decrease in demand for agricultural and livestock products for restaurants and the shortage of foreign workers have had a variety of effects, and various measures are being taken by individual producers, local communities, and the national government. With no end in sight, new initiatives such as "With Corona" and "After Corona" will be necessary in the future.
　In 1981, our "LP Coat" was first shipped to Ishikawa Prefecture as a raw material for BB fertilizer (for additional fertilizer), and the following year, in 1982, our "LP Compound" made from "LP Coat" was shipped to Okayama Prefecture for direct seeding in dry paddy fields. This was truly the start of "whole paddy rice cultivation with basal fertilizer. Since then, we have continued to build up our technology with the support of our research and distribution partners, and have continued to do so up to the present day.

　Today, "coated compound fertilizers" are produced and sold by various domestic fertilizer manufacturers, and they are now recognized as "one-shot fertilizers" in the agricultural industry. The percentage of rice paddy cultivation using these fertilizers is estimated to be more than 50% in terms of rice paddy area.
　This is the so-called "new normal" in paddy rice cultivation.
　However, with the recent intensification of weather fluctuations, changes in soil composition over the years, renewal of paddy rice varieties, and changes in demand from labor-saving to yield-increasing technologies, "paddy whole-plant fertilizer cultivation" is not always a "one-shot" solution.

　It has been about 40 years since the "Total Rice Fertilizer Cultivation" started. Last year, we started to study the matching of "total fertilizer cultivation technology" and smart agriculture, although we are late to the game. We are committed to creating a "new normal" that can contribute to agriculture through fertilizers, with the goals of responding to climate change and meeting the demand for technology to increase yields.
　In closing, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and ask for your continued patronage of this issue of "Agriculture and Science".

Use of Fertilizer with Regulated Fertilizer in Spring Sown Onion Cultivation

Fukushima Prefectural Agricultural Center
Vegetable Department, Crops and Horticulture Division
　　Yumi Yokota, Deputy Chief Researcher

Introduction

　In areas in Fukushima Prefecture where evacuation orders have been lifted and in areas affected by the tsunami, there are few farmers who have returned to their farms, so a small number of people are required to manage large plots of land in order to maintain local agriculture. Land-use type open-air vegetables such as onions have been introduced to the region as a new crop to improve the profitability of management entities, and the onion cultivation area in the Hamadori region has expanded rapidly, starting from 30 a in FY 2015 to 2,742 a in FY 2020.

　Onion cultivation in the prefecture is divided into two types: fall sowing, in which onions are sown in August or September and planted in October, and spring sowing, in which onions are sown in January and planted in March, with the harvest period from June to July. In spring sowing, the period from planting to harvest is about three months, and generally no additional fertilizer is needed in the field. However, in fields with low soil fertility, fertilizer runoff during the growing season can cause nitrogen deficiency, leading to poor growth and lower yields.

　In this study, we selected a leaching type of controlled-release fertilizer suitable for spring-sown onion cultivation and attempted to determine whether a combination of conventional fertilizer and controlled-release fertilizer could produce the same yield as conventional fertilizer with a reduced basal fertilizer.
　This test was conducted as a commissioned test for the Fukushima Plant Protection Association's "Test and Research Project on New Pesticides, etc.".

2. Testing Method

(1) Outline of cultivated species

　The trials were conducted in open fields (gray lowland soil) at the Fukushima Prefectural Agricultural Center in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, for two years, 2018 and 2019. The seedlings were sown in 448-hole cell trays on January 24, 2018 and January 18, 2019 in a glasshouse with one inner curtain, and the temperature was set so that the minimum temperature would not fall below 10°C. The number of emerged leaves was 2.5 to 3. Minoru Mega Soil (Minoru Sangyo Co., Ltd.) was used as the soil medium, and Tomy Liquid Fertilizer Black (Katakura Co-op Agri Co., Ltd.) was used as the fertilizer. Base fertilizer was applied on the day of planting.

　Planting was done on March 31, 2018 and April 2, 2019 using a four-row fully automatic transplanter. The planting density was 26,667 plants/10a (4 rows planted per row, row width 120 cm, row spacing 20 cm, and plant spacing 10 cm). The date of downfall, when 80% of the plants had fallen over the ground, was July 4 and July 15 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Harvesting was conducted simultaneously 7 days after the toppling date, on July 11 in 2018 and July 22 in 2019. Harvests were dried and stored in pipe houses covered with shading material with a shading rate of 501 TP3T.

2) Fertilizer selection (2018, 2019)

　Since onion tuberization is initiated by long-day conditions, it is important to allow sufficient growth of the stem and leaves by then. In addition, it is necessary to consider the negative effects of insufficient nitrogen at the start of enlargement, which results in poor ball enlargement, and too much nitrogen, which delays enlargement and tends to produce rotten balls (Kato, 1963; Iwata, 1959). In spring-sown cultivation of "Momiji No. 3" in Koriyama, stem and leaf growth was vigorous from mid-May, and around June 22, the number of emerged leaves reached 12 and enlargement progressed (Figs. 1-3).

　　　　

　Considering the growth characteristics of onions to avoid a delayed effect during the fertilization period, a coated urea fertilizer M-Coat (J-Cam Agri Co., Ltd.) with adjustable nitrogen leaching was used as fertilizer, and the test plots in Table 1 were established to determine the effective leaching period and leaching types for spring sown onion cultivation. The elution types were L20 with linear type elution, L30 with linear type elution, L40 with linear type elution, S20H with sigmoidal type elution, and S30H with sigmoidal type elution in 2018.
A total of five species were tested; L30 and S20H were used in 2019. As a control, a conventional plot was established in which phosphorus nitrogen fertilizer S604 was used. Each plot was 6 m2 (1.2 m x 5 m) in area, with three replications.

　Fertilizer application rates for the test plots are shown in Table 2. Fertilizer was applied on the planting date. In the conventional zone, 15 kg of nitrogen, 30 kg of phosphate, and 15 kg of potash were applied per 10 a. In the other zone, half of the total nitrogen content was fertilized with a fertilizer with a controlled fertilizer. In the other areas, half of the total nitrogen was fertilized with a fertilizer with regulated fertilizer, and the other half with the conventional fertilizer, S604 phosphonitrite and potassium sulfate, together with 20% phosphorus and potassium sulfate, the amounts of fertilizer applied to the field were 15 kg of nitrogen, 30 kg of phosphoric acid, and 15 kg of potassium per 10 a.

3) Investigation of the effect of fertilizer application regulating fertilizer on fertilizer reduction（2019)

　Because of the high fertilizer efficiency of fertilizer application, the test plots in Table 2 were set up to confirm the effect of fertilizer reduction of S604 phosphonitrite and potassium phosphate, the conventional fertilizer used as the base fertilizer. L30 (linear elution) and S20H (sigmoidal elution) were used as elution types.

　In the L30 reduced fertilizer and S20H reduced fertilizer test plots, half of the total nitrogen was fertilized with fertilizer with regulated fertilizer, and the conventional fertilizer, S604 phosphorus nitrate and potassium sulfate, was reduced by 30%, and the amount of fertilizer applied to the field together with 20% phosphorus and potassium sulfate was 13 kg for the nitrogen component, 30 kg for the phosphoric acid component and 15 kg for the potash component per 10 a. The fertilizer was applied in the main field.

(4) Survey Method

　The integrated nitrogen leaching rate of the fertilizer was calculated by placing 2.5 g of each of the test fertilizers in mesh bags in the ground in each test plot about 5 cm from the soil surface on the planting date, and then placing the bags in the ground on April 20, May 11, June 1, and June 1, 2018 before harvest.
June 22, July 13 (5 times in total), and in 2019 on May 7, June 5, June 27, and July 11 (4 times in total), and the nitrogen residual was analyzed and calculated.

　The soil temperature in the field was measured 5 cm below the ground surface using a data logger "Ondotori" (T&D Corporation). For the onion growth survey, grass height, leaf sheath stem, and number of emerged leaves were measured on 40 plants in each plot after fertilizer application. Grass height was
The length of the leaf sheath, which is the maximum length from the ground edge, was measured with a ruler. The leaf sheath stem was measured with a digital caliper at the short stem at the border between the leaf and the ball. Ball weight and ball diameter of the harvest were measured on July 27, 2018 and August 1, 2019, and rot incidence was measured on July 27 and August 27, 2018, and August 1 and August 19, 2019, for 40 plants per plot for the degree of rot progression from the leaf sheath area.
　For temperature and precipitation, Amedas Koriyama site data were obtained (Japan Meteorological Agency, 2018-2019).

3. results

(1) Weather conditions
(1) Temperature and precipitation

　Average temperatures in 2018 were 15°C from late April and reached 25°C in early July; average temperatures in 2019 were 15°C from early May and did not exceed 25°C until mid-July. Precipitation amounts were 60 mm in late April and 90 mm in early May 2018, with a significant amount of precipitation in early May (Fig. 4).

(2) Average soil temperature

　In 2018, temperatures began to exceed 15°C from late April and the average soil temperature exceeded 25°C from early July onward; in 2019, temperatures began to exceed 15°C from early May and remained lower than in 2018 from late June onward (Figure 5).

(2) Elution type suitable for spring sown onion cultivation
(1) Nitrogen integrated leaching rate of fertilizer with regulated fertilizer

　L20, a linear em-coat (only in 2018), eluted linearly after application and reached 78% elution on May 11, when the integrated soil temperature after 52 days reached 751°C (theoretically 25°C x 20 days = 500°C) (Fig. 6). l30 eluted linearly after application in 2018, reaching 81% elution on June 1, when the integrated soil temperature after 62 days reached In 2019, it eluted 481 TP3T on May 7 and reached 801 TP3T elution on June 5, when the integrated soil temperature reached 1,079°C (theoretically 25°C x 30 days = 750°C) after elution (Figure 7).L40 (conducted only in 2018) eluted linearly after application and reached 75% elution on June 1, when the integrated soil temperature reached 958°C (theoretically 25°C x 40 days = 1,000°C) 62 days after application (Figure 6).

　S20H, a sigmoidal emcote, did not elute as of April 20 in 2018, and began eluting around mid-May, reaching 85% elution on June 1, when the integrated soil temperature reached 728°C from elution (theoretically 25°C x 20 days = 500°C) (Fig. 6). 2019: 241TP3 T elution was reached on May 7, 2019, and the integrated soil temperature reached 630°C from elution (theoretically 25°C x 20 days = 630°C).
500°C) reached 93% elution on June 5 (Figure 7); S30H (performed only in 2018) hardly eluted at 6.6% on May 11, 62% elution on June 1, and 682°C (theoretically 25°C x 30 days = 750°C) at the integrated soil temperature from elution to June 22 when 90% elution was reached on June 22, when the accumulated soil temperature reached 682°C (theoretically, 25°C x 30 days = 750°C) (Fig. 6).
　Based on these results, M-Coat L30, L40, and S20H were the desired elution types, eluting in May, when weather and soil conditions are assumed to make it easier for the base fertilizer effect to wear off, and eluting at 80% in early June.

2) Effect on onion growth

　In 2018, grass height was minimum in the L40 section and maximum in the conventional section on May 11, but by June 1 there was no difference. No significant differences in number of leaves emerged and leaf sheath stems were observed throughout the period (Table 3). 2019 showed no significant differences in grass height, number of leaves emerged, and leaf sheath stems throughout the period in all sections (Table 4).

3) Impact on onion yield

　No significant differences were observed in ball weight, ball diameter, standard ball percentage, outer partial ball percentage, and rot percentage at harvest and one month after harvest in all the sections in both 2018 and 2019. Within-specification yields ranged from 4.7 to 5.0 t/10a in 2018 and 6.1 to 6.5 t/10a in 2019 (Tables 5 and 6).

Consideration

　The conventional fertilizer used in this study, phosphorus nitrate-ammonium potassium S604, is composed of approximately 60% ammonia nitrogen and 40% nitrate nitrogen, and ammonia nitrogen lasts for approximately one month, while nitrate nitrogen may be lost in a short period due to rainfall, but it is estimated to last for approximately 15 days. Therefore, it is assumed that the effect of basal fertilizer tends to wear off in May, and the fertilizer used in this study, Emcote, a controlled-release fertilizer, made it possible to stably supply nitrogen components in May, when the above-ground area increases, and there was no effect on yield or rot rate. This suggests that there was no excessive supply of nitrogen during the fertilization period.

Summary

　The types that leached in May, when the base fertilizer effect is expected to be easily broken due to weather and soil conditions, and leached 80% in early June were Emcote L30, L40, and S20H. When the fertilizer M-Coat was used for half of the total nitrogen content of 15 kg/10a, and the conventional fertilizer S604 was used for the other half, there was no effect on growth and yield regardless of which leaching type of M-Coat was used. Furthermore, when the nitrogen content of conventional fertilizer was reduced by 30% and M-Coat L30 or S20H was used in combination with the conventional fertilizer, the yield was equivalent to that of the conventional fertilizer.

thanks

　We thank Dr. Kasai, Deputy Chief Researcher, and Dr. Ishiguri, Researcher, Vegetable Science Department, Crops and Horticulture Division, Fukushima Prefectural Agricultural Research Center, for their cooperation in conducting this study. Dr. Miura, Director of the Production and Environment Department, reviewed the manuscript. We express our deepest gratitude.

References

KATO, Toru 1963.Physiological Studies on Formative Hypertrophy and Dormancy of Onion Balls. Kochi, Japan
　University Faculty of Agriculture
Effects of Different Nitrogen Supply Periods on the Growth and Yield of Onion (Allium sativum L.)
　The Impact of the "Chernobyl" on the Agriculture of the World. Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Tokyo
Compendium of Agricultural Technology Vegetables 8-②Onion, Asparagus. （The Society for Rural Culture.
Techniques for spring-sown onion cultivation in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions: a technical guide (Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agricultural Research Organization)
　(TAR)

How to apply fertilizer after purchase of the morning glory pots for lanterns and
　Proposal for New Plant Decoration with Long-Tailored Morning Glory Pot Seedlings

Tokyo Metropolitan Agricultural and Forestry Research Center, Edogawa Branch
　　　 Yuya Tahagi

Introduction

　The morning glory is an herbaceous vine that evokes the beauty of art and is a traditional Japanese horticultural flower1). Its design has been skillfully incorporated into Japanese paintings and crafts, and it was a strong candidate for the Tokyo 2020 Games emblem2,3). Morning glory flower competitions and fairs are held throughout Japan, but the Iriya Morning Glory Festival, held in Taito City for three days and nights from July 6 every year, is the most famous and large-scale event4). Around 1992, the Iriya Morning Glory Festival was crowded with more than one million visitors over the three days, and it is estimated that the number of pots sold reached 150,000. The majority of the pots sold were from Edogawa Ward in Tokyo, and Edogawa Ward is known as a rare producer of morning glory pots in Japan (Photos 1), 5 and 6).

　The morning glory pots sold at the Iriya Morning Glory Festival are usually made into paper lanterns, with four different colors, or four large-flowered varieties of different colors and patterns, planted in one pot. This cultivation method was originally developed to meet the needs of consumers for more flower colors, but it is also an effective strategy that takes advantage of the short transportation distance to consumption areas of urban growers7). However, even in the form of face-to-face sales with customers, it cannot be said that they are supplying potted flowers that consumers are satisfied with. For example, growers and sellers are first and foremost concerned about "flowers always blooming at the morning glory market," so they provide little support, including in terms of quality control, after the purchase. Therefore, the author focused on the number of flowers per pot, which is considered an important quality factor for four-planting morning glories, and examined fertilizer management methods for morning glories that can be appreciated with good flowering after purchase.

　On the other hand, postwar Japanese urban policy is said to have shifted from quantitative development to qualitative development aimed at creating comfort, beauty, and individuality8) . In recent years, urban planning has placed emphasis on landscaping and heat island countermeasures, and has promoted urban development that respects the unique townscapes and landscapes that cities have historically and traditionally cultivated, and is concerned with coloring and hues9,10). In the midst of these trends, the use of woody vines has expanded, mainly for wall greening, and the production of long vines that can be viewed immediately after installation has been commercialized11,12) . However, there is little knowledge on herbaceous vines, and because they are considered difficult to maintain and sustain, they are often excluded from the list of recommended plants both on the websites of local governments that support wall greening and by contractors who undertake the work.

　Therefore, in order to expand the use of morning glories as plant ornaments utilizing their vines, regardless of the lantern style, we attempted to use combustible growing containers and soil for the production of long pots of seedlings with strings as inducements, taking into account further labor-saving measures such as disposal after the end of cultivation.

2. post-purchase fertilization method for lantern-shaped morning glory pots

(1) Materials and method of lantern making (common to Experiments 1 and 2)

　Four varieties were tested: 'Dawn Spring', 'Dawn Nishiki', 'Dawn Dream', and 'Fuji no Ao' (all Sakata Seed). 128-hole cell trays were used. Four seedlings of each variety were planted in cell trays on April 21, 1999, and four seedlings of each variety were planted in cell trays on May 6, 1999. The potting soil was a mixture of red soil (black box soil produced in Chiba Prefecture), humus, unmodified peat moss, and rice husk charcoal in the ratio of 4:3:2:1 by volume and disinfected with steam (pH=5.5 (H2O), EC=1.2mS/cm).

　The red soil was pre-mixed with 3 kg/m3 superphosphate lime. The base fertilizer for the potting soil was a commercial slow-release chemical fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O-MgO=6-40-6-15) at 3 kg per 1 m3 of soil. The fertilizer was applied on May 4 and 14. Liquid fertilizer (N-100 ppm) was applied on May 4 and 14, and on May 26, IB Kasei S1 (N-P2O5-K2O-MgO=10-10 -10-10-1) was applied at a rate of 10 grains (about 5.4 g) per pot on May 26. Irrigation was done by hand once a morning using a lotus root, and the growing vines (main stems and side branches) were pulled by plastic lanterns as needed. The first day of the Iriya Morning Glory Festival (July 6) was assumed to be the date of sale and purchase, and the following two months were used as the research period.

　The cultivation site prior to the date of sale was in a pipe greenhouse heated to at least 18°C with a PO film covering, and after purchase, the cultivars were managed in a rain sheltered greenhouse. The plants were harvested after flowering to prevent fruit set and to promote normal flowering on the following day.
The dead leaves were removed daily.

(2) Amount of slow-release fertilizer applied at the time of purchase (Experiment 1)

　To determine the effect of slow-release fertilizer application on flower number at the time of purchase, a commercial tablet fertilizer (N-P2O5-K 2O=12-12-121.57 g/grain) was placed on the surface of the pot on July 7, and the amount of fertilizer applied was 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 grains/pot. Fertilizer was placed on the surface of the pots on July 7, and the amount of fertilizer applied was 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 grains/pot in six test plots. The number of pots tested was 5 per plot, and the plants were kept in a rain sheltered greenhouse until September 7. The irrigation was carried out once a day in the morning except when it was cloudy and rainy. On September 7, chlorophyll levels in six green areas of adult leaf blades were measured with a chlorophyll meter (Konica Minolta SPAD-502).

(3) Results of Experiment 1

　The cumulative number of flowers from the beginning of flowering to two months after purchase was 260 flowers/pot in the untreated area, but 400 flowers/pot in the 8-grain area, an increase of more than 50% compared to the untreated area. The number of flowers flowered in the 4-grain treatment was about 380 flowers/pot, which was clearly higher than that in the non-treated area. The cumulative number of blooms increased in the 4-grain treatment compared to the no-treatment treatment (Table 1). Leaf color on September 7, two months after purchase, was maximum when 12 to 20 grains were applied, but was also good when 8 grains were applied (Figure 1).

(4) Type and dilution concentration of liquid fertilizer in post-purchase fertilizer management (Experiment 2)

　The effect of post-purchase liquid fertilization on the number of flowers will be examined based on the number of flowers. 2 types of commercial liquid fertilizers (1) N-P2O5-K2O=20-.
20-20 and (2) N-P2O5-K2O=10-30-20 were used, with (1) multiplied by 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000, and (2) by 125, 250, and
The number of flowers was investigated in 10 test plots (5 pots per plot), including a total of 10 test plots with different dilution factors (500, 1,000, and 2,000 times) and a non-treated plot with tap water only. In principle, liquid fertilizer was applied once a week and irrigation was done once a day in the morning. On September 7, chlorophyll levels were measured at three green spots on the adult leaf blades.

(5) Results of Experiment 2

　The cumulative number of blooms during the first two months after purchase of both fertilizer treatments increased with decreasing dilution factor, and the quadratic approximation curve for N concentration for both fertilizers was well fitted, with a peak cumulative number of blooms at approximately 600 ppm (Figure 2).

(6) Summary of post-purchase fertilization methods for lantern-shaped morning glory pots

　As a result of the above, when a slow-release fertilizer was placed immediately after purchase and a commercial tablet fertilizer with a fertilizing effect of about one month was used, eight tablets per pot (1.5 g/pot for each of the three elements) was the appropriate amount. In the case of liquid fertilizer application, weekly application of [20-20-20] at a dilution of 500 times, N-400 ppm was effective. Considering cost and availability, [20-20-20] is more appropriate than [10-30-20].

　Although Hosoya reported on the nutrient absorption characteristics of potted flowers13,14) , in this study, we examined long-term liquid fertilizer management of morning glories for two months after purchase, and found that nitrogen concentration had a significant effect on the cumulative number of blooms.
Hosoya and Ikeda classified potted flowers based on plant growth phase and nitrogen-based macronutrient absorption ratio15,16) . Hosoya and Ikeda classified potted flower species based on plant growth phase and nitrogen-based macronutrient absorption ratios15,16) , and Suda et al. studied the effect of culture medium concentration in the second half of cultivation on the longevity of major potted flowers such as pot mums17) . Morning glory is included in the long flowering type, as is cyclamen, because its stems elongate while the true leaves develop and flowering continues, and nitrogen deficiency in particular is considered to be a major cause of the loss of number of flowers and leaf color. In the future, it is necessary to study the duration of the nitrogen fertilizing effect of fertilizers and the nitrogen fertilizing effect remaining in the pots at the time of purchase.

Trial production of long tailored morning glory pot seedlings using combustible materials (Experiment 3)

(1) Materials and Methods (Experiment 3)

　The cultivars "Purple Lion" and "Red Lion" were tested. Rice husk kuntan (hereafter "kuntan"), coconut shell compost (hereafter "kuntan"), and red soil (hereafter "red soil") were added to paper pots (9.0 cm in outer diameter × 7.6 cm in height, made by Sunnap Co. The compost was sown into 200-hole cell trays on May 1, 2017, and two plants of "Purple Lion" and two plants of "Red Lion" were sown per pot on May 9, 2017. Two plants of "Purple Lion" and one plant of "Red Lion" were planted per pot on May 9, 2017. Base fertilizer was a commercially available slow-release chemical fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O-MgO=6-40-6-15) at 3 g/L with trace elements and phosphorus nitrate and potassium nitrate (Micro long total)
(type 280-70) was applied at 2 g/L. Vines that grew during potting were induced to grow on 1.8-m-long jute twine to form long-tailored pot seedlings.

　After July 8, the last day of the Iriya Morning Glory Festival, the seedlings were displayed outdoors in pots on the south wall of the main building of the Edogawa Branch Office. The seedlings were placed in rows of 10 cm between plants in a rain gutter (TR75 made by Takiron) laid on the ground, and were managed to reach a maximum plant height of 3 m by adding a pulling string. The number of seedlings grown in the greenhouse was at least 7 plants in each plot, and 12 plants were tested when grown outdoors. A 2000-fold dilution of a commercial liquid fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O=20-20-20) was applied as additional fertilizer during outdoor management. The changes in plant height and flowering position by flower color were investigated by actual measurements and by image determination using a fixed-point camera (Brinno TLC600), which took one-hour interval images from 5:00 to 10:00 every morning.

(2) Combination of growing container and soil and seedling growth (Experiment 3)

　For potted seedlings planted on May 9, leaf color (SPAD value) did not differ among containers, but was influenced by the substrate. In particular, the SPAD value of cotyledons on May 21 was significantly lower in Veravon. Even on June 13, when the cotyledons had dropped off, there were significant differences among the soils (Table 2). Grass height was affected by both container and soil on June 13 and June 27, but only by soil and not by container on July 4. Although grass height was inferior in the Veravon area on all survey dates, it increased with the number of growing days, indicating that the growth was good (Table 3). No difference was observed in the date of first flowering among the different containers and soils (data omitted).

(3) Dry weight of long tailored pot seedlings at completion (Experiment 3)

　The flowering of each section of containers and soils was ready, and the outdoor installation was set for July 7, the middle day of the Iriya Morning Glory Festival. The dry matter weight of the long-tailored potted seedlings at the time of shipment was reduced to half that of the conventional combination of polyethylene pots and red soil by using Kuntan and Veravon (Fig. 3).

(4) Outdoor placement of long-tailored potted seedlings with combustible materials and the number of daily blooms (Experiment 3)

　The number of daily blooms in paper pots made of combustible material in combination with either kuntan or veravon as a substrate was equivalent to that of the conventional material until August 9 (Figure 4).

(5) Outdoor management of long tailored potted seedlings using combustible materials and their growth and flowering (Experiment 3)

　The plant height of the combination of Kuntan and Bellavon in paper pots on July 26 and August 1 and 10 was similar to that of the conventional polypropylene pots + red soil mixture. The distribution of flowering by height above ground was also similar, but on July 26 and August 1, "Red Lion" tended to flower at relatively low height (less than 1.0 m above ground) and "Purple Lion" at 1.0 m above ground. The flowers were almost uniformly distributed at each height (Fig. 5, Photo 2).

Summary

　We focused on the number of blooms during the first two months after purchase of the four-plant, paper-lantern style morning glories, a standard at the Iriya Morning Glory Festival, and investigated fertilization methods after purchase. The results showed that (1) slow-release fertilizer with at least 1.5 g each of the three elements at the time of purchase and (2) weekly application of a liquid fertilizer (N-400 ppm) containing equal amounts of the three elements after purchase were effective.
　We also attempted to commercialize long pot seedlings of morning glory induced by string, and proposed a plant decoration that can be disposed of entirely as combustible waste after use by using a combustible cultivation container and soil. The paper pots used as growing containers showed good growth as well as conventional polypropylene pots, and the number of days of flowering was not affected. In addition, by filling the paper pots with kuntan, it was possible to reduce the weight by 50% or more compared to conventional pots, and no effect on growth and flowering was observed.

　Some of the results of this research have been used in the production of materials for plant decoration at venues such as the Tokyo 2020 Games, and are already being used at the Asakusa Namiki-dori Avenue in Taito Ward, Tokyo (Photo 3)18). After purchasing morning glories as potted flowers or planting them as plant decorations, it is essential to pay attention to the persistence of nitrogen fertilization. In this respect, slow-acting long-acting fertilizers are highly effective, and it is considered essential to make good use of these fertilizers to improve ornamental value.
*The present results are a summary of Tokyo Agricultural Experiment Station Research Report (32) "Technical Improvement and Post-purchase Management Methods of Gyoran Morning Glory Production for Iriya Morning Glory Market" (2004) and Tokyo Agricultural Experiment Station Research Report (15) "Development of New Plant Decorative Materials by Long-Tailoring Morning Glories" (2020). Part of the research was conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan under the "Commissioned Research and Development of Technology to Enhance the International Competitiveness of Domestic Flowering Plants (FY2015-2019)".

References

(1) Shiino, Masahiro. Encyclopedia of Morning Glories: Past, Present, and Future of the Morning Glory Gardening World. Encyclopedia of Morning Glories: Past, Present and Future of the Morning Glory Gardening World. Seibundo Shin
　Hikarisha. pp.6 (2012)
(2) Kaoru Hidaka and Nobuhiko Maruyama. Morning Glories as Designs. Traditional morning glories. National Museum of Japanese History. pp.60-61
　(1999)
(3) Report on the collection of opinions on the final candidate emblems for the Tokyo 2020 Games. (Tokyo Olympics
　Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
　https://tokyo2020.org/jp/games/emblem/archive /data/pub-comments-report.pdf (2016)
(4) Weekly Shiki Hanameguri 42. shogakukan creative. p.4-7 (2003). Shogakukan Creative. p.4-7 (2003)
5) Kawano, Yoshikazu. About Iriya Morning Glory Market. Traditional Morning Glories. National Museum of Japanese History, pp.43-44 (1999)
(6) Flowers of Tokyo: Record of the 17th Japan Flower Growers Convention, supervised by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Bureau of Economic Affairs, Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Flower Horticulture
　Union Federation. p. 158-159 (1968).
7) Takizawa, Masamichi. Location and Establishment Conditions of Flower Production in Tokyo. Journal of Agricultural Management 33-1, p.30-39.
　(1995)
(8) Report of the Subcommittee to Study Basic Issues and Directions of Urban Policy. https://www1.mlit.go.jp:8088/common
　/000043480.pdf Council for Social Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
　Report of the Urban Planning Subcommittee of the Urban Planning and Historic Climate Subcommittee of the Association (2009)
(9) Basic knowledge of wall greening that you should know.
　https://urbangreen.or.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/wallgreenerybook.pdf. Urban Greening Organization
　Special Greening Collaborative (2018)
(10) Urban Greening Technology in the Age of Environmental Symbiosis: A Handbook for Rooftop and Wall Greening Technology. (Urban Greening Technology Development Organization
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