TANI Masayuki Professor

ThemeResearch to achieve sustainable production and supply of high-quality and safe foods by bringing out the best in soils and abilities of plants into full play

My DreamBring out the best in soils for sustainable food production

Belongs

Research Center for Global Agromedicine/Department of Agriculture and Animal ScienceResearch Department/Department of Agro-environmental Science/Division of Plant Production Science/Section of Plant Production Science
Field Soil Chemistry, Pedology, Integrated Plant Nutrient Management
Keyword Soil, Soil fertility, Soil diagnosis, Soil improvement, Dissolved organic matter, Plant nutrition, Phosphorous, Calcium, Heavy metals, Compost, Potato, Maize, The Great Rift Valley

Introduction

The main theme of my research is to draw out the power of the soil that support sustainable food production. I have been tackling various researches till now to achieve sustainable production and supply of high-quality and safe foods by bringing out the best in soils and abilities of plants into full play. In recent years, I have carried out researches on 1) evaluation and effective utilization of phosphate and other plant nutrients in arable soils, 2) effects of fertilization techniques on the growth and quality of potato and onion (photo 1), and 3) function of dissolved humic substances in the manure compost and digested slurry, especially on plant physiological activities and nutrition uptake. I am also working on international researches in African and Asian countries 1) evaluation and improvement on soil fertility in crop production area of Kenya and Malawi by crop-livestock integrated agriculture (photo 2), and 2) influence of traditional slash and burn agriculture on carbon accumulation and spatial variation of soil fertility in Malaysia (photo 3).

So far, soil science has advanced mainly towards improving food production technology in accordance with natural scientific aspects. On the other hand, sophisticated societies have become distant from agriculture and soil, and it seems that they are losing sight of the essence of agriculture and soil. In order to preserve symbiosis between nature and human society, it is indispensable not to confront people and the environment, but to think from the viewpoint that they are united together, to explore the relationship between people and the environment from a multifaceted perspective. In harmony of sustainable nature and society, I try to aim at research that can train people capable of widely disseminating that we cannot live away from the soil.

photo 1. Volcanic ash soils (Andisols) supporting crop production in Tokachi district, characterized by black and humic surface soils
photo 2. Potatoes grown in highland of Malawi, low productivity is critical issue due to deficiency of plant nutrients in soil
photo 3. Upland rice grown by the slash and burn method in steep slope of Malaysia, Is the slash and burn method environmental disruption or conservation?

List of current research topics

  • Fertilization technique and soil improvement for processing potato cultivation in Hokkaido
  • Evaluation and improvement on soil fertility in potato production area of Kenya
  • Influence of traditional slash and burn agriculture on carbon accumulation and soil fertility in Sabah, Malaysia
  • Interactive effects of nitrogen and magnesium nutrition on yield and quality of potato
  • Evaluation of soil fertility and water-holding ability by remote sensing and spatial variation analysis
  • Possible reduction of phosphate fertilization by compost and fertilizer mixed pellet
  • Accumulation and dissipation of elements by comparing vertical distribution in virgin and arable Andisols
  • Effect of soil disturbance on spatial variation of soil properties and crop production in Chinese yam field
  • Effective utilization of high phosphorous steel slag as phosphate fertilizer
Related industries Agriculture, Livestock husbandry, Waste utilization, Environmental conservation
Affiliated academic society Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Japanese Society of Pedology, Japanese Society of Humic Substances, International Union of Soil Science, International Society of Humic Substances
Editor Pedologist: 2018-Present
Editorial Board
  • Japanese Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition: 2012-Present
Academic degree D. Agr.
Self introduction

I was born in Osaka on January 25, 1968. I love Beer and Hanshin Tigers. When I entered university, I desired to study Microbial Engineering at first, because the biotechnology was so prosperous at that time. However, after having worked part time at the highland vegetable farm in Nagano during the summer vacation on my third year grades, I was inspired so much by the importance of the earth for agriculture, with this as a turning point I begun to study Soil Science. I became an instructor of Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine since April, 1995, and have worked up to the present time. My outside interests are to take exercise and enjoy drinking. Recently, I’m sweating with ice hockey and roller hockey, and also enjoying peaceful touring with off-road motorcycle.

Room addressGeneral Research Building 2
Room numberRoom 201
Mail address masatani atmark obihiro.ac.jp