The effects of long-term fertilization on soil properties and nutrient availability are not well documented for cassava cultivation in Vietnam. In 1990, a field research plots were established with 12 treatments to test the effect of different rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on soil properties in Acrisols at Thai Nguyen University in Northern Vietnam. In 1999, composite soil samples (0 to 20cm depth) were collected from eight selected plots for measurements of nutrient supply rates by ion exchange membrane probes and for growing corn and canola in a growth chamber with and without added lime. Generally, long-term nitrogen (N) fertilization increased available N supply rates but decreased available potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). Long-term phosphorus(P) applications increased canola N, calcium (Ca) and Mg uptake. Canola P uptake increased with increased P rates only when lime was added. Long-term K applications increased canola N, K, Ca, Mg uptake but only significantly increased corn N uptake. Liming significantly increased uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S for both corn and canola. However, N H4- N, K and Mg soil supply rates were reduced when lime was added, due to competition between Ca from the added lime and other nutrients.

To develop optimumal storage method of root of Bupleurum falcatum Radix grown on major cultural herbal medicine materials, root of Bupleurum falcatum Radix was stored for 10 months with different packing materials and sealing methods. The loss in dry weight as influenced by packing materials and sealing methods was the lowest at vacuum packing and followed by complete sealing methods with transparent polyethylene film. The ratio of root rot during the storage period was not significantly different between packing materials but was significantly different between sealing conditions. Conclusionally, vacuum packing and complete sealing with polyethylene film appears to be optimal for storage of Bupleurum falcatum Radix.

This experiment was designed to assess changes in yield difference between waxy (IWR) and non-waxy (INWR) near isogenic rice by evaluating the translocation and accumulation of assimilates in different parts of the rice plants after heading stage under different fertilizer application. Nitrogen content of culm in both IWR and INWR decreased rapidly from 35 days before heading to flowering time and after then it was maintained constantly, while the nitrogen content of leaf blade was continually reduced. Sugar content of leaf blade in IWR decreased steadly by 10 days after heading, but that in INWR increased 20 days after heading. There was no difference in starch content of culum between IWR and INWR from 35days before heading to heading, but that of culm of IWR increased again after heading. Dry weight of IWR plant was less reduced during ripening as compared with INWR. The dry weight of culm was not significantly different between two isogenic lines.

An extensive investigation has been made for the possible utilization of polypropylene spunbonded fabrics in rice seedling nursery. Considering the cropping systems available in southern part of Korea, sowing dates were fixed at April 5 and April 20 for single cropping and May 6 and May 26 for double cropping. Nursery period was fixed to 35 days for each sowing date. Four different thickness of polypropylene spunbonded fabrics, 40, 60, 80, 100 g/m2 , were tested in rice seedling nursery. The temperature and light intensity were not significantly different among the thickness of polypropylene spunbonded fabrics. Light intensity was significantly reduced in polypropylene spunbonded fabric (72.2 Klux) compared with polyethylene mm (85.5 Klux), however, the reduced light intensity was enough for seedling growth. The temperature in the polypropylene spunbonded fabric covering during low air temperature was higher than that in polyethylene mm tunnel. At transplanting, the rice seedlings grown in polypropylene spunbonded fabric condition was shorter (17cm) but healthier than those in polyethylene mm (23cm). The estimated possible nursery periods using the polypropylene spunbonded fabric covering may start from April 1 at Chinju (plain area in Southern Korea, 20m altitude) and April 15 at Susang (mountainous area, 430m altitude). Labour hours and cost were reduced by about 28% and 48%, respectively.

A field experiment was carried out to observe the weed control effects of vetch and to evaluate vetch characteristics on clay loam soil in no-till direct-sown rice-vetch cropping systems. The effects of weed control, forage productivity, and N content of vetch plants were investigated. With the progress of plant growth, density of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) gradually decreased, but densities of foxtail and other weeds decreased steeply due to the depression by the over-shaded vetch canopy in a no-till direct-sown rice-vetch cropping paddy field. The vetch density in tillage systems was lower than in notillage cropping systems. Lower vetch density occurred with an increase in foxtail density and other weeds. Weed control effect increased by the progress of vetch growth, which indicated that the vetch canopy over-shaded the weeds. Vetch straw was degraded rapidly submergence after with water at the time of wet sowing of rice. Early harvesting of vetch seed resulted in lower seed germination. To acquire enough seedlings without re-sowing, the harvesting of seed should be delayed at least 28 days after the flowering stage in order to ensure the vetch population is sustainable in a no-till direct-sown rice-vetch cropping system. In order to improve the survival of vetch plants, vetch seeds should germinate from the heading .stage to before the full-ripening stage of rice plants. To enhance the percent of over-wintering survival, vetch seeds should germinate no later than the end of October in southern Korea. The dry weight of vetch plants increased with the progress of vetch growth until the flowering stage but N content decreased for 30 days from before the flowering stage (2.9%) until the ripening stage (1.8%). We concluded that Chinese milk vetch could have an effect on weed control before the flowering stage, sustainability without re-sowing of seed annually, and effective green manure for rice pre-crop in no-till direct-sown rice-vetch relay cropping systems.

The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) has the potential to enhance the efficiency of im- proving food processing traits of soybean. In this study, 92 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci and two morphological markers (W1 and T) were used to identify QTL associated with food processing traits of soybean for sprout in 83 F2 -derived lines from a cross of ＇Pureun＇ x ＇Jinpum 2＇. The genetic map consisted of 76 loci which covered about 760 cM and converged into 20 linkage groups. Eighteen markers remained unlinked. Phenotypic data were collected for hypocotyl length, abnormal seedling rate, and sprout yield seven days after seed germination at 20~circC . Based on the single-factor analysis of variance, eight independent markers were associated with hypocotyl length. Four of seven markers associated with abnormal seedling rate were identified as independent. Seven loci were associated with sprout yield. For three different traits, much of genetic variation was explained by the identified QTL in this population. Several RFLP markers in linkage group (LG) Bl were detected as being associated with three traits, providing a genetic explanation for the biological correlation of sprout yield with hypocotyl length (r=OA07＊＊＊) and with abnormal seedling rate (r=-406＊＊＊).

Mineralization of organic N is an important factor in determining the appropriate rate of organic matter application to paddy fields. A kinetic analysis was conducted for nitrogen mineralization of rice, barley, Chinese milk Ovetch (Astragalus sinicus L.; MV) and narrow leaf vetch straw in paddy soil. Nitrogen immobilization occurred rapidly and its rate increased in straw with high C/N ratio. The amount of nitrogen mineralization was rapid in the first year of rice-vetch cropping system. The rate constant (K) depended on the C/N ratio of organic matter. Mineralization of straw increased at high temperature. The amount of available N increment resulted in fast mineralization of straw, especially in rice and barley straw. Chinese milk vetch had the greatest mineralization rate at all temperatures and fertilization levels followed by narrow-leaf vetch. However, rice and barley straws with high C/N ratio immobilized the soil N at the initial incubation duration. Chinese milk vetch or narrow leaf vetch was not effectively mineralized in mixed treatments with rice or barley straw. The mineralization rate of organic matter was mostly affected by the C/N ratio of straw and temperature of incubation. Organic matter with low C/N ratio should be recommended to avoid the immobilization of soil N and the increasing mineralization rate of straw

No-till direct seeding cultivation of rice has major advantages such as saving of labor and cost by eliminating tillage, preparation of seed bed and trans-planting procedure compared to the conventional transplanting cultivation. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of straw treatment and nitrogen levels on the rice growth in no-till direct-seeding cultivation. Rice straw, vetch straw, and the mixture of both of the straws were mulched on the surface of soil before seeding while 4 levels of nitrogen fertilizer, 0, 7, 9, and 11 kkg/10a respectively, were applied at 3 split times, 3-weeks after sowing, 5-weeks after sowing and the panicle initiation stage. Mulching of vetch straw significantly reduced seedling establishment of rice which may be attributed to low oxidation-reduction potential of soil by vetch mulching treatment. Vetch straw increased the concentration of soil ammonium leading to an extension of the greenish leaf to panicle initiation stage. Agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AD EN ) in heavy-mixed straw mulching plots was lower than other treatments. Grain yield and AU EN in the vetch treatment were less affected by fertilized N levels. Conclusively, it is suggested that heavy straw mulching was not efficient for rice seedling establishment and nitrogen usage.e.