Field and pot experiments were conducted at Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, to clarify the effects of foliar application of phosphorus on growth, yield, and seed elements in soybean. Foliar application under field conditions did not affect yield, yield components, amount of phosphorus accumulation, and seed nitrogen content, except node number. On the other hand, foliar application under pot condition increased yield, shoot and seed dry weight, and amount of phosphorus accumulation, regardless nodulate (Lee(+)) or non-nodulate (Lee(-)) soybean. Although, the seed nitrogen concentration was increased by phosphorus foliar application in Lee(+), the seed nitrogen concentration decreased in Lee(-). These results indicated that phosphorus foliar application affects dry matter production, not only through nitrogen fixation in soybean. If dry matter production is increased by phosphorus foliar application under nitrogen insufficiently conditions, seed nitrogen concentration may be declined.

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Recently, farmer's market in agricultural commodities has raised the problem of keeping farm foods in farmer's market. Therefore, we undertake a study on farmer's behavior in producing the major farm products in farmer's market and discussed farmer's group on efficient production. The results revealed that sale of each major good was strongly influenced by farmer's good sale per month and the duration; price and transport time has no influation the amount of goods sold and the latter are not influenced by farmer's choice. Subsequently, we concluded that making farmer's group is effective and leads to an increased monthly production and sustainable skill. However, it's difficult to raise price in farmer's market and to choose the goods of best pattern and in relation to transportation cost and production area.

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To investigate the effect of low concentrate O_2 atmosphere (1%, 10%) controlled by CO_2 gas replacement on the quality of fresh-cut bell pepper fruits during cold storage, residual ascorbic acid (L-AsA) rate, Brix percentage and firmness of fresh-cut immature or mature samples were examined. The residual L-AsA rate for mature samples stored in the low O_2 atmospheres was maintained or increased over 100%, while the rate for control was decreased to around 80%. The Brix percentage of fresh-cut mature samples was also maintained in the low O_2 atmospheres. In contrast, the residual L-AsA rate and Brix percentage for immature samples decreased in the low O2 atmospheres. The tissue firmness stored in the low O_2 atmospheres tended to be maintained comparison with the samples for control. The result of this study can contribute to develop a new preservation technique for fresh-cut bell pepper fruit.

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Anthurium were grown for use as cut flowers in a novel cultivation system, involving the combined use of intermittent mist and tilted benches, to investigate the influence of planting position on yield and quality of cut flowers. The bench had an A-shaped structure and each side had two or three shelves of pockets for planting. The number of shelves and difference in level did not affect the yield of cut flowers per unit area or per plant. Cut flower length and bract size showed significant differences between numbers of shelves and different levels. The quality of cut flowers from the top level in summer was low. The quality of cut flowers was more stable in the two-shelf system than in the three-shelf system.

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