A project to reconstruct a food production area following the adverse impacts of the great east Japan earthquake and Tsunami of 2011: Open field vegetables

Abstract

Among large-scale research projects for reconstruction of agriculture and fisheries of the area damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (2011), the results of field trials and research concerning field vegetables including cabbage and broccoli were reviewed. In Miyagi Prefecture, to reconstruct the agriculture of the Sendai Plain coastal area, a mechanized and labor-saving culture system of field vegetables, that can coexist with paddy rice production as the primary source, was chosen. In this article, from such a point of view, an integrated mechanical culture system of cabbage is introduced and discussed. In addition, in Fukushima Prefecture, the specific situation regarding the radioactive pollution soon after the disaster led to research trials on nursery production. For labor-saving in nurseries, broccoli plug seedlings were raised by a bottom watering system with application of NaCl solution to increase the drought-resistance of seedlings. In Iwate Prefecture, open-field cucumbers were cultured by a fertigation technique to maintain vigor and extend the harvest period.