Effects of inhibiting cultivation methods for the premature growth on growth, yield and quality on the early planting of mat rush [Juncus]

In recent years, the planting season of middle harvesting Mat Rush was advanced from the first ten days of December to the first ten days of November. As a result, decreased yield and deteriorated quality are becoming problematic. This adverse effect is attributable to an increase in premature growth due to high temperature after taking root. Therefore, we investigated cultivation methods that will inhibit the premature growth in early planting. (1) The standard volume (6kg/10a) was better than the half volume (3kg/10a) in amount of basal dressing nitrogen applied. One reason for this was that the half volume resulted in a decreased yield and a deteriorated quality, because growth from top clipping stage was undeveloped in years of low temperature in the winter season. Since nitrogen absorption in stems before the first topdressing was insufficient. (2) The standard planting (28.0 hill/m2) was appropriate for some plaiting densities. Some reasons for this were that the dense planting (34.6 hill/m2) accelerated premature growth, the sparse planting (23.0 hill/m2) didn't differ from the standard planting in premature growth, and it also resulted in a decreased yield. (3) Small-sized planting hills (3 or 4 stems/hill) was better than standard-sized planting hills (7 or 8 stems/hill) in point of the inhibiting effect of premature growth. Moreover, small-sized planting hills accelerated growth after top clipping stage with a good T/R ratio mainteined. Therefore, it was concluded that small-sized planting hills resulted in yield increase of stems of 120cm or longer, and it improved quality of mat rush because the tip rot stem ratio and the partial discolored stem ratio decreased. For planting middle harvesting Mat Rush before the proper season, from the above results suggest that the standard volume of basal dressing nitrogen should be applied, that planting should be in the standard density on smallsized planting hills