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Pod setting rate in soybean is an important trait that determines pod number, which is highly correlated with seed yield. Using two soybean cultivars with different pod setting rates, we examined the relationship between plant growth regulation by gibberellin (GA) and pod setting rate. Plant growth rate (PGR) after flowering was significantly higher in 'Fukuyutaka' (low pod setting rate) than in 'Kariyutaka' (high pod setting rate); this difference was caused by increasing of GA biosynthesis-related genes expression. Additionally, pod setting rate in 'Fukuyutaka' was lower than that in 'Kariyutaka'. Furthermore, when 'Kariyutaka' was treated with GA after flowering, the PGR increased and pod setting rate decreased. These results suggest that pod setting rate in soybean is regulated by vegetative growth after flowering through GA biosynthesis.

Rapid expansion of cultivated bamboo negatively impacts on biodiversity and soil microbial community. As such, it is important to properly manage and use bamboo to prevent and control such issues. This study focuses on optimizing pyrolysis conditions to produce bamboo biochar for agricultural soil amendment, particularly soil potassium (K) and water holding capacity. Bamboo chips were pyrolyzed under nitrogen gas at 400, 600, and 800 °C for 1 and 2 h of retention. A total of six biochar products were created: 400-1 (i.e., 400 °C in 1 h), 400-2, 600-1, 600-2, 800-1, and 800-2. The 600 °C bamboo biochar products were observed to have the greatest potential in increasing soil K and water holding capacity. The 600-1 product had the highest potassium content (4.87%), with a water holding capacity of 3.73 g g −1 , while the 600-2 product had the second-highest potassium content (4.13%) and the highest water holding capacity (4.21 g g −1) and cation exchange capacity. The K release in 600 °C products was larger and slower than that of the 400 °C and 800 °C products, respectively. The results also indicated that the physicochemical characteristics of bamboo biochar, such as yield, pH, surface area, water holding capacity, and K content, were significantly impacted by temperature, retention time, or a combination of these parameters. The outcomes from this study are a valuable reference for bamboo biochar production targeting agricultural soil amendment, particularly when it is directed at increasing soil K and water holding capacity.

Energy-resolved neutron imaging at a pulsed source utilizes the energy-dependent neutron transmission measured via time-of-flight to extract quantitative information about the internal microstructure of an object. At the RADEN instrument at J-PARC in Japan, we use cutting-edge detectors employing micro-pattern detectors or fast Li-glass scintillators and fast, all-digital data acquisition to perform such measurements, while continuing their development toward better utilization of the intense neutron source. In particular, for the Micro-Pixel Chamber based Neutron Imaging Detector (µNID), a micro-pattern detector with a 400 µm pitch and employing 3 He for neutron conversion, we have successfully improved the spatial resolution from 200 to 100 µm, increased the detection efficiency from 18 to 26% for thermal neutrons, and increased the maximum count rate from 0.4 to 1 Mcps. We are also testing a new readout element with a 215 µm pitch for further improved spatial resolution, and a µNID with boron-based neutron converter for increased rate performance.

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This study evaluated the different expressions of cherry tomato growth, yield and quality under bamboo and rice husk biochar applications to soil. The experiment was conducted under glasshouse conditions at Hakozaki campus, Kyushu University, Japan and consisted of 5 treatments, namely 1) no biochar application as a control; 2) 2% (RH2) and 3) 5% (RH5) of rice husk biochar; 4) 2% (BB2) and 5) 5% (BB5) of bamboo biochar. Bamboo biochar application significantly improved tomato growth, including number of leaves, fresh biomass yield of aboveground and underground parts for BB5; number of fruit; fresh yield from 24% -25% for BB2 and BB5. In particular, both bamboo and rice husk biochar application at two rates 2% and 5% had positive effects on tomato quality, demonstrated by the increased total sugar content from 56% to 91%, and the enhancement of ascorbic acid content for BB2 and RH2 by 12% and 17%, respectively. Those improvements reflected the soil physiochemical property changes after biochar application, including the increase in plant available water for bamboo biochar amendment before and after cultivating by 25% -38% and 9% -18%, respectively, compared with those of control; and the increased total soil N for bamboo biochar treatments (11% -14%). Generally, all data above support bamboo biochar utilization for the purpose of improving soil properties and developing crop production.

This paper introduces the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council of Japan (AFFRC) model, an integrated model that predicts future rice production in the Mekong River basin by taking into account the effect of global warming on both the water cycle and the rice economy. The model focuses especially on the water balance of paddy fields for different farmland water use systems. We defined six categories of irrigated paddies and three categories of rain-fed paddies on the basis of their systems of water usage. We included a process-based model to predict future rice production, accounting for daily changes in available water resources such as precipitation. Many models of crop production treat rice in the same way as other crops; the particular characteristics of rice farming are considered in more detail in our model. Our results show that it is possible to estimate future rice production in the Mekong River basin by taking into account changes in available water, and to model the resultant effects on the grain market.