Effects of Soil Conditioners Mixed with Masa-soil Heaped up on a Slope on the Growth of Six Ground Cover Plants

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to report the effects of two kinds of soil conditioners mixed with the Masa-soil on the growth and increase in cover degree of six species of ground cover plants. Two soil conditioners, bark compost mixed with cow excrement and expanded perlite, were adopted, and three kinds of soil conditioning were prepared;(1) 85: 10: 5, (2) 70: 20: 10 and (3) 40: 40: 20, in the ratio of Masa-soil, perlite and bark compost by volume. The six experimental plants were Vinca major, Hedera helix “Pittsburgh”, Ficus pumila, Hypericum calycinum, Juniperus horizontalis and Ophiopogon japonicus f. nanus. The results of the study were as follows:
1. The plant growth and cover degree of the six ground cover plants were greatest in soil in which maximum additions were used, thus suggesting the higher additions for best plant growth and cover degree.
2. Two coverage patterns of these plants were recognized;(1) a gradual but steady increase pattern (Vinca major, Ficus pumila, Ophiopogon japonicus f. nanus and Juniperus horizontalis), and (2) a pattern of slow increase during the first year and vigorous increase during the second year (Hedera helix “Pittsburgh” and Hypericum calycinum).