Central Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO

Division of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

With the aim to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and improve the conditions of soil for crop production, we are conducting research on optimization of fertilizer usage by soil testings, utilization of organic resources such as green manure, and developing rational fertilization and soil management technology in paddy field crop rotation system.


Rapid and simple soil testing method for available nitrogen in air-dried paddy soil

Soil Testing Research Group

We develop techniques to measure available nitrogen, phosphorous and exchangeable acidity which can be used as indices of soil fertility. We also develop an evaluation method that covers field-wide distribution of physical properties of soil.

Paddy field soil management Group

We develop techniques for soil management and effective fertilizer use to sustain fertility, and to improve low productivity of wheat and soybean on paddy-upland rotation system which includes high yield feed rice production.

Soil Biology Group

We develop techniques for fertilizer reduction in crop production with green manure application, optimization of fertility management after solar sterilization and showing soil microbial community structure in stable vegetable production.

Plant Nutrition Group

We develop metabolic biomarkers for detecting the nutritional status and environmental stress of plants with metabolome analysis. We also analyze the flavors to evaluate the quality of agricultural products.

Centers・Institutes