XVI International Botanical Congess

Recently rice field flora and fauna have been reduced by modern agricultural techniques and increase of rice field abandonment. To establish the conservation methods and appropriate management of rice field flora, we have been carrying out experimental management of wet rice fields. We surveyed the flora and vegetation and the seed bank of study area consisting of cultivated, fallow and abandoned rice fields. Our survey results suggest that the factors affecting species composition of the vegetation are soil moisture, use of herbicides, years after abandonment and seed bank species composition. To conserve the biodiversity of rice field ecosystem, including rare and threatened species, it is important to control the soil moisture and vegetation change appropriately, and restore species-rich vegetation from seed banks.