ISSN:
1572-9761
Keywords:
agricultural economics
;
citrus fruit production
;
island
;
landscape
;
rural forest
;
site condition
;
social change
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract On Shimokamagari, an island of the Seto Island Sea, patterns of vegetation in the landscape were studied using vegetation maps. Relationships between social and economic changes, site conditions and the vegetation were examined from a historical perspective. In the process of economic development, mandarin orange production became important on this island. However, over-production, a reduction in the price of mandarin oranges and low-temperature damage to orange trees caused large citrus orchards to be abandoned. A plant community dominated by kudzu appeared in the abandoned orchards and the pine forests, as well. These changes in orchards were connected with the natural site conditions, such as soil, geology, inclination, elevation, direction of slope, and also with artificial conditions, such as density of working paths. Another factor causing change was the replacement of the organic fertilizer of litter from forests by chemical fertilizer since the 1960's. As a result, medium and small forests of pine became tall forests and tall forests of pine changed into tall oak forests. In the human-dominated areas, the major factors affecting the process of vegetation were economic activities, and after the abandonment of the farm-lands, forest succession were controlled by natural site conditions.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02418942
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