Different amounts of potassium fertilizers were given to plots and leguminous plants such Cassia mimosoides L. var. Nomame MAKINO, Microlespedeza striata MAKINO and Astragalus sinicus L. were grown on the plots. Seeds harvested were stored in decicators in which relative humidity was controlled to 78.2 per cent with 6.9N sulfuric acid and then swelling velocity of the seeds was surveyed under water. Seeds, seed coats and cotyledons were analyzed for potash, soda, lime and magnesia. The results obtained were summerized as follows: 1) The swelling velocity of seeds increased obviously with the increase of the amounts of potassium fertilizers applied. 2) The potassium contents of seeds increased obviously with the increase of the amounts of potassium fertilizers, too. 3) The increase of potassium contents was more obvious in seed coats than in cotyledons. 4) From these results it is concluded that the increase of the swelling velocity of seeds with the increase of potassium application is caused by the increase of potassium contents of seed coats.

View full abstract

The present investigation was carried out to obtain information on the forage value of wild herbaceous plants at a certain grassland, where the Miscanthus sinensis, Arundinella hirta, Zoisia japonica and Plantago asiatica communities develop according to difference of disturbance by livestock, Japanese black breed of cattle. The number of 20cm×20cm quadrats laid out was 1250 at the Miscanthus community, 1500 at the Arundinella community, 1000 at the Zoisia community and 750 at the Plantago community. Occurrence frequency, feeding frequency and feeding ratio were calculated for each grazed species in each community by the following formulas: Occurrence frequency=A/Q×100(%) Feeding frequency=a/A×100(%) Feeding ratio=a/a+b+c+…+n×100(%) where Q is the total number of quadrats employed at a community, A is the number of quadrats in which species A occurs and a, b, c, … are respectively the number of quadrats in which species A, B, C, … are grazed at the same community. The data obtained are shown in Table 1. The feeding frequency for each species examined varies among different communities. Among the wild species, Miscanthus sinensis is grazed more frequently in every community. Its feeding frequency increases from 14% in the Miscanthus community to 66% in the Plantago community along the gradient of disturbance pressure by livestock, while its occurrence frequency decreases in the same direction. The above results indicate that M. sinensis is most favored by cattle as a palatable forage plant. Arundinella hirta and Carex lanceolata attain to fairy higher feeding frequencies than the other species. In each commnity, the plants showing the largest feeding ratio are the species being dominant there, except for the case of Plantago community, in spite of the fact that they do not always attain high feeding frequency. This may suggest that the feeding ratio depends on two major factors: the palatability and quantity of the plant species. When the occupying area of each community is taken into consideration, the feeding ratio of M. sinensis attains to the highest percentage of 51, since the Miscanthus community occupies the largest proportion of 83% in the grassland. In A. hirta, C. lanceolata and Sasa sp., the ratio shows 22%, 13%, and 6%, respectively. The other species are negligible since their feeding ratios are lower than 2%. From the above results, it may be concluded that M. sinensis is the most valuable forage plant of cattle among the wild herbaceous species.

View full abstract

One of the cheepest way of pasture establishment might be the sheep grazing method. Sheep is effective in two respects for establishing pasture: the hoofs press the seeds into the ground and subsequent grazing protects the seedlings from weeds. This type of pasture establishment was attempted in mountainous grassland at the Kawatabi Farm of Tohoku University in 1961. Fertilizer and seeds of grasses and clovers were broadcasted at the beginning of July, and at the same time sheep began grazing. After one month's grazing sheep were brought out, because native grasses became insufficient for feeding sheep. Next spring pasture grasses grew vigorously and good pasture was established in the heavy grazing place.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract

The objectives of this report is to introduce of banding system and pasture management for the better grassland farming in Hokkaido which was suggested by Dr. M. Drake. He is a professor of soil and plant nutrition at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Massachusetts, U.S.A. He stayed in Hokkaido University, as a exchange professor for three growing seasons from 1958 to 1960. We summarized of his precious suggestion on banding method of rotation pasture and pasture management.

View full abstract