Leaf mold - Fuyodo

Japanese: 腐葉土 - ふようど

Leaf mould is formed by the accumulation of fallen leaves and twigs and then humus. There are two types of leaf mould: one that has accumulated naturally and then humused, and one that is made by collecting fallen leaves artificially and then humusing them. It is used mixed or alone as soil for growing horticultural plants. Leaf mould has a high capacity for retaining nutrients (fertiliser) and water, and is effective in maintaining soil fertility, reducing compaction, assisting with drainage and ensuring soil temperature, and is useful for improving soil together with organic matter supplements. It is also used for raising beetle larvae.

[Yasuo Hori]

How to make it

The fallen leaves of evergreen trees (May to June) and deciduous trees (November), excluding coniferous trees and leaves with high moisture content, are collected and piled up to ferment. There are two ways to pile them up: digging a hole and burying it, or building an enclosure and piling them up inside. It takes about a year to become a product, but to ferment and compost them more quickly, rice bran and nitrogen fertilizer are mixed in to help generate heat when piling them up. However, if the leaves are not fully ripe, the roots may be damaged when used. Fallen leaves from oaks, chestnut trees, sawtooth oaks, and zelkova trees make good quality leaf mold. Its components are around 1% nitrogen, 0.2% phosphorus, and 0.1% potassium.

[Yasuo Hori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

落葉や小枝が堆積(たいせき)し腐植したもの。腐葉土には、自然に堆積し腐熟したものと、落葉を人為的に集めて堆積し腐熟させたものとがある。園芸植物の栽培用土として混合または単用で利用する。腐葉土は養分（肥料分）や水分の保蓄力が高く、地力維持、固結の軽減、排水の補助、地温の確保などに効果があり、有機質補給材とともに土壌改良に役だつ。そのほか、甲虫類の幼虫飼育にも利用される。

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作り方

針葉樹や水分の多い落葉を除いた常緑樹（5～6月）、落葉樹（11月）の落葉を集めて堆積し発酵させる。堆積には穴を掘って埋める方法と、囲いをつくってその中に堆積する方法とがある。約1年で製品になるが、早期に発酵腐熟させるには堆積のとき発熱補助に米糠(こめぬか)や窒素肥料を混合する。しかし完熟したものでないと使用時に根を傷めることがある。カシ類、ナラ、クヌギ、ケヤキなどの落葉が良質の腐葉土となる。成分は窒素1％、リン0.2％、カリウム0.1％内外である。

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