We studied Zucchini（Cucurubita pepo L. Melopepo Group） planted cultivating bed for avoiding soil disease. In three terms（2014 spring to summer, 2014 summer to fall, 2015 spring to summer）, we planted zucchini in cultivating beds which were 0.07 meters in depth, 0.6 to 0.1 meters in width, and 0.9 intrarow spacing, and researched the effect of volume of cultivating bed on growth, fruits hardness, total saccharides content, and ascorbic acid content for zucchini. According to the results, the growth of zucchini was kept on over 0.3 meters width, the yield of it was tendency to decreasing under 0.2 meter width. The fruits hardness, total saccharides content, ascorbic acid were not affected by difference of volume of cultivating bed. In conclusion, it is suitable for the planting cultivating bed that has over 0.3 meter width.

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We have developed an inexpensive and efficient method to measure field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) using a scaled transparent cylinder. The cylinder was inserted in sandy soil to visually measure temporal changes in water levels, i.e. hydraulic head H(t), in the cylinder. The infiltration flux density (qs) in the cylinder was obtained using three different methods: ( 1 ) a quadratic or ( 2 ) a cubic equation to fit temporal changes in the hydraulic head H(t), and ( 3 ) a central difference approximation in the hydraulic head H(t). The field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) was calculated by multiplying the flux gradient (dqs / dH), cylinder diameter (a), π, and a dimensionless shape factor (G) proposed by Reynolds and Elrick ( 1990 ), to express the effect of three-dimensional infiltration flow. However, the Kfs with the proposed G value overestimated known saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) in sandy soil by 10%. So, new relationships between various known saturated hydraulic conductivities (Ks) and dimensionless shape factors (G) were established using a simulation model, HYDRUS 2 D / 3 D Ver3 . 01 , with a falling head infiltration boundary condition. The new procedure with a newly established dimensionless shape factor (G) successfully estimated Kfs in sandy soil using visually-measured temporal changes in water level H(t).

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The salt tolerance of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is attributed to nutrient uptake and an antioxidative response. Here, we investigated nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and antioxidative response in Sweet (salt-sensitive) and Napoletano (salt-tolerant) basil treated with a control solution or moderate- (50 mM NaCl) or high-salinity (100 mM NaCl) solutions for 13 days to clarify the differences in their salt tolerance mechanisms. Salt tolerance was higher in Napoletano as judged from dry matter production, especially under moderate salinity; Napoletano maintained higher water contents by maintaining higher K contents in leaf blades and accumulating Na in roots. Photosynthetic rate was unaffected in both varieties under moderate salinity, and in Napoletano under high salinity. Electron transport rates were lower in Napoletano than in Sweet, but were not affected by salinity treatments. Catalase activity seemed to be important in both varieties under salinity stress, but did not cause the observed differences in salt tolerance. Malondialdehyde content in Napoletano was always lower than that in Sweet, suggesting that Napoletano has a better antioxidative system.

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We studied the succession of woody vegetation and topsoil development on shallow landslide scars along sea cliffs distributed on the Satsuma Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Six plots on the steep slopes of shallow landslide scars were selected after a time period of 3 – 43 years following the occurrence of shallow landslides. The results show that the maximum tree height, diameter at breast height, number of trees and tree species, breast height cross-sectional area, Fisher-Williams diversity index, and proportion of evergreen broad-leaved trees in all of woody plants increase with time following a shallow landslide event. Woody vegetation successively develops on the topsoil in the shallow landslide scars. The rate of topsoil development in the shallow landslide scars (0 . 41 cm year－1) is slower than that in shallow landslide scars of mountainous areas in the same prefecture. Severe environmental conditions along the sea cliffs lead to the poor development of woody vegetation. Specifically, the woody vegetation is severely damaged by blowing sand and strong salty winds, and remains poorly developed compared with shallow landslide scars of the regional mountainous area.

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