Fig. 1. Experiment i soil conservation using sloping test fields.
To accelerate research activities on reducing soil and water deterioration, and increase water use efficiency in island environments, a new lysimeter system was constructed in JIRCAS Okinawa Subtropical Station. The system consists of weighing lysimeters, as well as outdoor and indoor lysimeters, artificially-developed slopes and an artificially-constructed canal. These are used for research activities aimed at analyzing evapotranspiration, fertilizer and water release, plant water use, soil erosion and water quality improvement, respectively. The lysimeters are equipped with water supply and percolated water collection systems at the bottom. The indoor lysimeters are also equipped with surface water supply systems.
Equipments for weather observation, soil physics analysis, water quality and root development measuring devices, transpiration and soil erosion estimation, as well as plant water measuring operation are also linked to the lysimeter system. The newly-constructed lysimeter system is open to all researchers who are able to join in JIRCAS programs and projects
Fig. 2. Indoor lysimeters with tomato plants growing.
Fig. 3. An artificial developed slope collecting eroded soil.
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
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■Tropical Agriculture Research Front
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