Rice planting with compost to improve tsunami-damaged soil begins in Miyagi (JAPAN)

Rice planting begins in a field filled with special compost designed to overcome damage to soil caused by the March 11 tsunami, in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on May 20. (Mainichi)

SENDAI -- Rice planting tests using special compost designed to improve soil damaged by the March 11 tsunami began in the Miyagi Prefecture city of Ishinomaki on May 20.

The new compost, developed jointly by Fukushima Prefecture company Fukuman Sangyo and Nihon University, has raised farmers' hopes of quickly restarting rice planting operations. Usually, it is said to take about three years to restore damaged soil when washing it with freshwater to remove salt.

Researchers have confirmed that the compost prevents salt from rotting the roots of plants, and that it can decompose organic matter and help control germs. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology's Tohoku center and other organizations quickly decided to test the product.

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