Case Study on the Use of the Leaf-Count Method for Drip Fertigation in Outdoor Cucumber Cultivation in Reconstructed Fields Devastated by a Tsunami

Yuki Tashiro, Tatsuo Sato, Junjira Satitmunnaithum, Hatsumi Kinouchi, Jianlin Li and Sayuri Tanabata
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Yuki Tashiro: Iwate Agricultural Research Center, Narita 20, Kitakami 024-0003, Iwate, Japan
Tatsuo Sato: Center for International Field Agriculture, Research and Education, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ami 4668-1, Ami, Inashiki 300-0331, Ibaraki, Japan
Junjira Satitmunnaithum: United Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-8-1, Saiwaicho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan
Hatsumi Kinouchi: Center for International Field Agriculture, Research and Education, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ami 4668-1, Ami, Inashiki 300-0331, Ibaraki, Japan
Jianlin Li: Center for International Field Agriculture, Research and Education, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ami 4668-1, Ami, Inashiki 300-0331, Ibaraki, Japan
Sayuri Tanabata: Center for International Field Agriculture, Research and Education, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ami 4668-1, Ami, Inashiki 300-0331, Ibaraki, Japan

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: Drip fertigation was tested in fields using a nitrogen fertilization method based on leaf increments, with the aim of increasing the cucumber yield in outdoor fields restored after the tsunami disaster in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, in 2011. The 2016 test site (Takata field) was restored as a paddy field, and there were problems with water retention and gravel contamination. The condition of the 2017 test site (Yonesaki field) was better than that of the 2016 site. The drip fertigation method increased cucumber yield by 93% and 27% in the Takata and Yonesaki fields, respectively, when compared to the yield from fields cultivated conventionally. Drip fertigation enables the constant supply of liquid fertilizer to the rhizosphere, and the easy application prevents the scarcity of fertilizer, especially at later stages of growth. In contrast, a real-time soil diagnosis, using the Dutch 1:2 soil–water extract method, was unsuccessful due to flooding, especially in the Takata field. As the purpose of this method is not to reduce the amount of nitrogen provided, but to increase the yield, and because it is difficult to precisely control the application of fertilizer due to precipitation, we suggest that the real-time soil diagnosis and feedback should be omitted to further simplify fertilizer application.

Keywords: leaf-count method; liquid fertilizer; nitrogen; reconstructed field; simple diagnostics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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