Abstract
New methods for low-cost and labour-saving of paddy rice culture in the east flat area of Gunma Prefecture were evaluated. Economics was evaluated by indisensable cost per 10a. Labor efficiency was evaluated by the total weight of the nursery boxes to be moved, and the working hours for fertilization per 10a. The use of a new nursery box and the reduction of the amount of soil in the nursery box reduced the cost and labor by 30-36%. The use of the flat arrangement of nursery boxes and non-split feritillizer application to the field reduced labor by 30-33%, and the use of non-spilt feritillizer application to the nursery box reduced the cost by 17%, and labor by 94%. Next, the culture systems combining these methods were evaluated. The system combining the flat arrangement of boxes and non-split feritillizer application in the field reduced the cost by 6% and labor by 33%. The system combining the reduced amount of soil in the nursery box, flat arrangement of the nursery boxes and non-split feritillizer application in the nursery boxes reduced the cost by 30% and labor by 33%. Thus, these technologies were effective for paddy rice field management. We surveyed the farmer's fields when the latter system was applied for 2 years. The growth and yield of rice were comparable to those in the standard field, and we concluded that this technology is useful.
