estimating crop yields of rice during yayoi period by experimental cultivation
DESCRIPTION
IPC/IOPC 2012 Tokyo, General session 04 o04 (29. Aug. 2012)TRANSCRIPT
Estimating crop yields of rice in Japan during Yayoi period by experimental cultivation
Yukiko Kikuchi 1,2
1Silk Road Research Institute, Waseda University, Japan2Paleo Labo Co. Ltd., Japan
• A historical record of Nara and Heian period (710–1185 AD) - the only basis
→ Estimated low : less than 64 kg/10a• Tracks of rice stubbles excavated at late Yayoi
period paddy field - High density : 121 stubbles/m2
Negative judgments though never tested
Introduction
Tracks of rice stubbles・ Archaeological site of Hyakkengawa Haraojima ・ Late Yayoi period : 0-250 AD・ Strong evidence of rice planting
7cm
・ Hyakkengawa Haraojima site 121 stubbles/m2
(8cm between stubbles)
・ Present paddy fields 18 plants/m2
(25cm between plants) ・ Negative opinions Unable to grow If grew, impractically high yields for this era, according to calculations
Density of the stubbles
• Experimental cultivation Plant (or sow) 2 types of rice in different densities and investigate the crop yields
• Restored paddy field No agricultural chemicals No fertilizers, no manures
Materials and Methods
• Tsutsu ー a
・ From Tsutsu, Tsushima (Nagasaki prefecture) ・ Black chaff
• Kitakami ー b
・ Obtained from a farmer in Tohoku region ・ Yellow chaff
* These are expedient names
a b
Planted red rice
• Red rice is one of the oldest types available in Japan• Red rice still keeps wild characteristics Tall (easily lodged), Low yields, Long aristates,...• Impossible to determine whether the carbonized seeds from archaeological were red rice or not
=?
Why red rice?
・ Broadcast seeding (Tsutsu / Kitakami)
・ Planting 18 /m2
(Tsutsu / Kitakami)
・ Planting 30 /m2
(Tsutsu / Kitakami)
・ Planting 121 /m2
(Tsutsu / Kitakami)Right after planting (June 2009)
Broadcast seeding
Cultivation methods
Location Iruma city, Saitama Prefecture
☆
• Paddy fields at valley bottom• East : Copse West : Tea garden
Experimental paddy field
Location
Nishikubo Wetlands
10 m2
Planted sections
Broadcast Seeding →
121 plants/m2→
30 plants/m2→
18 plants/m2→
Yield calculation• Investigate 4 yield components 1 Panicle number per 1m2
2 Grain number per panicle 3 Percentage of ripened grains 4 1,000–grain weight (dehulled) ・ 1 & 2 : Investigate 20 average sized plants in each
section ・ 3 & 4 : Investigate 10 average sized plants in each
section
• Crop yields per 1m2 = Product of 4 yield components
Experimental paddy field crop yields
Crop yields in Nara-Heian period
Grade of paddy fields Crop yields (Dehulled rice : ㎏ /10a)
Upper grade paddy field上 田 106.635
Middle grade paddy field中 田 85.333
Lower grade paddy field下 田 64.031
Lowest grade paddy field下々田 32.016
Conventional estimates
Results of the experiment
Estimating crop yields in Yayoi period
Conclusions• Dense planting (121 plants per m2) was a
possible method in Late Yayoi period - High density leads to an increase of the yield per unit area• It is possible to estimate the crop yield of rice
in Yayoi period much higher than the conventional estimates (32-64 kg/10a).
Planting 18 plants/m2 : 102-113 kg/10a Planting 121 plants/m2 : 144-212 kg/10a
Thank you for listening