The Division of Agro-Environment Research consists of three group, namely, Plant Protection Group, Soil Fertility Management Group, and Agricultural Meteorology Group. In cooperation with the experts of these groups and other divisions, we are developing new agricultural technologies for efficient agricultural production, and pursuing studies to provide reliable farm products to consumers.
The Plant Protection Group is engaged in research for effective control of diseases and pests in rice and vegetables. We have previously developed a forecast system for rice blast based on infection behavior of the pathogen and meteorological data in the field, and a forecast system for spotted paddy rice caused by stink bugs based on the kind of plants in the surrounding fields. In addition, we have also developed a technique to reduce the damage of soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium disease of vegetables and Phomopsis root rot of cucumber by soil pH correction using converter slag.
The Soil Fertility Management Group is engaged in research aimed at reducing the risks of arsenic and cadmium in agricultural production, management of a suitable fertilizer application for spring onions, treatment of organic wastewater using constructed wetland, and promote utilization of organic resources. In the past, we have elucidated that the combination of liming with partial mixing technique in the center of a ridge, and the use of low-cadmium cultivar or lines are effective for reducing the risk of cadmium in soybean cropping. As to the technology to treat organic wastewater using constructed wetland, we developed the multi-stage hybrid wetland systems for treating high-content wastewater.
The Agricultural Meteorology Group is engaged in research that helps to enhance or improve crop production under variable weather conditions. We aim to develop a system that predicts the occurrence of crop damages caused by extreme temperatures and diseases. We also attempt to determine the impact of global environmental changes such as global warming on crop production and to develop adaptation measures under climate change. Currently, we are developing a tool to aid crop management practices using crop simulation models. To develop technologies that can reduce emission of greenhouse gases and uptake/accumulation of radioactive substances, we study the mechanism of methane emission from paddy fields and the dynamics of cesium as affected by different crop management practices.
Rice blast in paddy fields. The disease was wide spread in the left-side of the field, compared to right-side. The difference in the damage caused by the disease depends on host resistance to the pathogen.
