Changes of form and size of field lot on rice paddy in Ishikari mire region, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

History and cause of change in form and size of field lot on several rice paddy area in Ishikari mire region, Hokkaido, Japan, were examined with reference to settlement period, rice paddy development period, and soil classification. Form of field lot was affected by the differences in starting period of settlement and development of rice paddy, and it is especially regulated by the frame of settlement block. However, the farm land consolidation projects which were carried during 1970's, have changed the form of field lot itself dramatically. As a result of these projects, the form of field lot is almost completed as the same form with nowadays. With these projects as a Wilting point, field lot size has been standardized, and local difference has been disappeared. Further enlargement of field lot size is now under progress in some farm blocks of several areas, but its progress is moderate than the change happened in 1970's. Moreover, some area with peat shows decrease in the rate of large (more than 1 ha) farm area.