ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF NATURAL GRASSLAND : (V) COMPARISON OF METHODS IN CONVERTING NATURAL GRASSLANDS TO GRASS COVERS

Abstract

1. This experiment was undertaken to find proper methods of Converting a natural grassland to a grass caver. 2. In this experiment, seven methods of the seedbed preparation before seeding were employed as follows: 1) Plowing 2) Burning after Cutting 3) Cutting 4) Application of 30^<Kg> dry salts of sodium chlorate (NaClO_3) per acre 5) Application of 120^<Kg> dry salts of sodium chlorate per acre 6) Application of 240^<Kg> dry salts of sodium chlorate per acre 7) Burning after application of 240^<Kg> dry Salts of sodium chlorate per acre. 3. In the plots of cutting and of 30^<Kg> NaClO_3, the good grass stands were not established in the first year. If the cutting and additional fertilization are continued repeatedly in this year, the good grass stands will be established. 4. The plot of burning after cutting gave two different results: high and low yields of hervage. It seems that this difference is due to whether the burning is employed effectively. Therefore, if the burning is employed effectively, this methods will be useful. 5. The other four plots showed high yields of hervage; especially the plot of burning after application of 240^<Kg> NaClO_3 brought the highest yields. 6. The yield of hervage in the second cutting was higher than that in the first or the third one, relating to the additional fertilization. This fact just stated suggests that the attempt to convert a natural grassland to a grass cover will be fail unless additional fertilizer is applied.