Abstract
In this paper, we conducted a field experiment on a large park which is located on the north part of Awaji Island, central Japan, in order to verify effects of mulching of wood chips made from pruned braches and leaves on 39 cherry trees (Cerasus × Kanzakura 'kawazu-zakura'). 39 trees were divided into three groups: wood chips were laid around 14 trees after grass removed, sand was laid around 15 trees after grass removed, and 10 trees were treated as control. SPAD value, photosynthetic rates for tree growth, and soil temperature and moisture were measured from the beginning of August to the middle of November. As a result, the average of soil temperature of tress with wood chips was significantly lower than ones of trees with sand and control trees. The averages of soil moisture of trees with wood chips and sand were significantly higher than one of control trees. Also, trees with wood chips and sand had significant higher SPAD values than control. The photosynthesis rate of trees with wood chips was less reduced than the others. These results showed that the multing of wood chips could keep trees healthy, because of maintaining the soil temperature and moisture.
