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General Crop Farming, Plant Physiology, Soil, and Pests & Diseases

Agriculture (SSW 2) · 農業(2号) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Photosynthesis, Respiration, Transpiration, and the C/N Ratio

Plants use light energy to synthesize carbohydrates (sugars) and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water through photosynthesis. Once light intensity reaches the light saturation point, photosynthesis plateaus unless CO2 concentration is increased.

Transpiration of water vapor through stomata (abundant on the undersides of leaves) cools leaf temperature and drives water and nutrient uptake from the roots. Flower bud differentiation is promoted when carbohydrates (C) are abundant relative to moderate nitrogen (N).

Conversely, excessive nitrogen lowers the C/N ratio, causing overly vigorous stem and leaf growth ('vine overgrowth / tsuruboke') and poor flowering and fruit set.

Key points


  • Photosynthesis produces sugars and oxygen from CO2 and water; CO2 enrichment boosts photosynthesis beyond the light saturation point.

  • Transpiration through stomata cools leaves and pulls water and mineral nutrients up from the roots.

  • Excess nitrogen lowers the C/N ratio, causing vegetative overgrowth (tsuruboke) and poor fruit set.
WordMeaning
photosynthesis and light saturation point
transpiration and stomata
flower bud differentiation
excessive vegetative growth (vine overgrowth)

Germination Conditions, Photoperiodism, and Nutrient Deficiencies

The three essential conditions for seed germination are water, temperature, and oxygen. Lettuce, carrot, and sesame have light-favored seeds requiring shallow soil cover, whereas radish, green onion, and watermelon have dark-favored seeds.

Short-day plants (flowering as nights lengthen) include rice, soybean, strawberry, and chrysanthemum; long-day plants include spinach, radish, and wheat (tomato and cucumber are day-neutral).

Because calcium (Ca) is immobile in plants, Ca deficiency appears at new shoot tips and fruit ends as blossom-end rot in tomatoes or tipburn in Chinese cabbage. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in older lower leaves, and boron (B) deficiency stunts growing points.

Key points


  • Seed germination requires water, temperature, and oxygen; light-favored seeds like lettuce and carrot need thin soil cover.

  • Rice, soybean, strawberry, and chrysanthemum are short-day plants; spinach, radish, and wheat are long-day plants.

  • Calcium deficiency causes blossom-end rot and tipburn in young tissues; magnesium deficiency causes interveinal yellowing in older leaves.
WordMeaning
light-favored (photoblastic) seed
short-day plant
long-day plant
blossom-end rot

Crumb Soil Structure, pH, EC, and Soil Solarization

Soil consists of solid, liquid, and gas phases; applying mature compost develops a crumb (aggregate) structure whose macropores improve drainage and aeration while micropores retain water and nutrients (CEC).

Because heavy rainfall acidifies Japanese soils, dolomitic lime is applied to adjust soil to a slightly acidic pH of 6.0–6.5 for most crops (potatoes are kept at pH 5.0–5.5 to prevent common scab; blueberries and tea also prefer acidic soil).

Excessive fertilizer salt accumulation raises electrical conductivity (EC), drawing water out of roots and causing salt burn. In summer, soil solarization—flooding the field and sealing it with clear plastic mulch—raises soil temperature to kill soilborne pests and pathogens.

Crumb Soil Structure, pH, EC, and Soil Solarization

Key points


  • Crumb-structured soil excels in both drainage/aeration and water/nutrient retention.

  • Most crops thrive at pH 6.0–6.5, whereas potatoes are grown at pH 5.0–5.5 to suppress common scab.

  • Excessively high electrical conductivity (EC) indicates salt accumulation that causes root injury (concentration damage).
WordMeaning
crumb / aggregate soil structure
electrical conductivity (EC)
salt injury / fertilizer burn
soil solarization

Major Pests & Diseases and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Plant diseases are mainly caused by filamentous fungi (powdery mildew, downy mildew, gray mold, rice blast), bacteria (bacterial wilt, soft rot), and viruses (mosaic disease, yellow leaf curl).

Sap-sucking insects such as aphids, whiteflies, and thrips transmit viral diseases and excrete honeydew that causes sooty mold. Because viral diseases cannot be cured chemically, control relies on excluding vectors and roguing infected plants.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines cultural controls (crop rotation, resistant varieties, grafting), physical controls (insect nets, sticky traps, reflective silver mulch), biological controls (natural enemies, pheromone traps), and judicious chemical use.

Key points


  • Bacterial wilt and soft rot are caused by bacteria, while powdery mildew and gray mold are caused by fungi.

  • Aphids, whiteflies, and thrips are vectors of viral diseases; silver mulch reflects UV light to repel winged aphids.

  • IPM integrates cultural, physical, biological, and chemical control methods to keep pest damage below economic thresholds.
WordMeaning
filamentous fungi (molds)
vector transmission
natural enemy
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Plant Physiology, Soil and Crop Protection

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