Effects of water holding materials added to the surface of low-moisture volcanic ash soil on soil water content and early germination rate of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)
1997
Nishimura, T. (Kyushu Univ., Fukuoka (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture)
This study examined the effects of three water holding materials (vermiculite, Sphagnum and synthetic resin) added to the surface of low-moisture volcanic ash soil on the soil water content and early germination of orchardgrass. In experiment 1, water content and water release of the materials and volcanic ash soil (untreated control) wee measured for 7 days after they were soaked in water for a day. The water content and the released water volume during the 7-day period were significantly different among the materials, being ranked volcanic ash soil vermiculite Sphagnum synthetic resin. In experiment 2, low-moisture volcanic ash soil with or without water holding materials was oversown with orchardgrass, and soil water content and germination rate of seeds were measured for 7 days. The addition of the materials resulted in higher soil water content and germination rate as compared with the untreated soil. Experiment 3 showed that the increase in the germination rate with the application of the materials was enhanced by covering the seeds with soil. It was suggested that adding water holding materials to the surface of low-moisture volcanic ash soil promotes germination of orchardgrass directly drilled into deteriorated pasture sods by improving soil water condition
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