Physical Properties and Sediment Loss on the Grassland in Kitakami Mountainous Region

Abstract

Around the tops in the mountainous region of Kitakami are widely used as a pasturing land over a long time span. In order to get the fundamental data about the preferable developement way of meadow, we set a research site where the various observations were carried out to clarify the effect of past and present use of meadow on discharge of soil and water.
Results of observations showed cleary that the physical properties of soil was degraded and the discharge of soil was increased in some cases of the development way of meadow and the condition of grazing. Especially, the tendency was remarkable in the man-made meadow for pasturing. However, the discharge of soil was decreased where the forest stands remained along with streams in the meadow.