Abstract
After the 1990s, especially in western Japan, utilization of soil generated from sites and reforestation of cutting slopes became a requirement. This study analyzed vegetation and soil after 18-19 years of planting at a cutting slope in Kizugawa City, Kyoto, Japan as a pioneer example, in order to obtain knowledge on reforesta-tion method on an Osaka-group or geologically-equivalent cutting slope by utilizing soil generated on site. The results show that a planted tree attained a maximum height of 15.1 m, which was close to the target value, and the growth of trees ranged between average and better compared to other cases in Kansai region. Additionally, the basal area at the breast height was 38.5 m2/ha, which was higher than the adjacent existing forest, and roots were distributed to depth of 70 cm, which was similar to that of the existing forest. The results of the investigation of the growth of planted trees, both above and below the ground, indicate that the reforestation method undertaken in this case, i.e. planting seedlings on sandy soil selectively collected on site and mixing the soil with solid fertilizer and bark compost, was effective. However, the forest on the slope was not similar to the existing forest from the viewpoints of stand structure and species composition; inhibition of natural regeneration from seeds was noted as a problem.
