Abstract
In November 1990, following the straw checker-board work established in China, a small-scale checker-board work with Tatami mat was settled in the sands. It is consisted of 121 squared cells of 90 x 90cm and 30cm high framed by the Tatami mat segments. From the observation of seasonal recovery process of the vegetation in next year, following results were obtained. 1) In early summer the amount of grasses in the works was poorer than control because of sand deposit over 25cm depth in the works area, but exceeded control by mid-summer. 2) Recovery of the vegetation was greater nearby the side of Tatami mats. After 5years, in spite of the sand deposit more over 25cm above the mats, still this tendency of higher vegetation density in the chekerboard works was confirmed. Rhizomes and roots in the accumulated sand tended to concentrate towards Tatami mats. The results of monitoring sand surface temperature and moisture content at 10cm depth in the sand in summer 1991, and surveys organic contents in summer 1995 showed that the buried Tatami mat considerably influenced upon the spatial environment of the accumlated sands and made it suitable for recovery and retention of the vegetation.
