Status of Forest Weed Control in Japan -Mainly Herbicides Use Technique Including Tetrapion and Its Mixture-

We have large areas of forests in our country where various types of trees can grow. Since Japan geographically locates on a wide region with the extention of 3,000 km south and north, the climate varies from subtropical to subarctical one. Many mountains additionally make the climatic condition more complicated. Thus, we are able to see many kinds of trees in our forest areas. We have also frequent rainfalls through whole season and the precipitation reaches approximately 1,500 mm per year in many forests areas. In some rainy regions, it sometimes account for more than 2,000 mm. The condition is so advantageous for the growth of weeds and shrubs that it makes them very strong competitors with plantation trees in our forestries. It, therefore, may be said that the most important problem in Japanese forestries is to combat with undesirable vegetations continuously and to keep trees from weeds.