Urasaku - Urasaku

In the case of double cropping, where different crops are grown twice a year in the same field, or multiple cropping, where crops are grown three or more times a year, the crop grown during the main growing season, mainly in the summer, is called the main crop, while the crop grown after that is called the secondary crop. For example, in paddy fields, rice is often grown as the main crop, and wheat or other crops are grown as secondary crops from the time of harvest until the following spring. The term secondary crop can also be used to refer to the crop grown secondary to the main crop.

In Japan, the amount of cultivated land is small, so second crops have developed to make effective use of it, and potatoes, rapeseed, and vegetables are also grown as second crops. Second crops also include Chinese milk vetch, which is grown to fertilize the land. Although the term is sometimes used interchangeably with "after crop," it can also be used to refer to crops that are not planted in winter and are instead grown in the early spring before the rice is planted.

[Hoshikawa Kiyochika]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

同じ田畑に、異なった作物を年2回栽培する二毛作や、3回以上栽培する多毛作の場合に、夏を中心とした主栽培期間につくることを表作といい、それに対し、その後の栽培を裏作とよぶ。たとえば水田では、表作にイネをつくり、その収穫後から翌春まで裏作にムギ類をつくることが多い。また、裏作する作物をさして裏作ということもある。

　日本では耕地面積が狭く、その有効利用を図るため裏作が発達し、ジャガイモ、ナタネ、野菜なども裏作される。また裏作には、土地を肥やすために栽培されるレンゲソウなども含まれる。なお、後作(あとさく)と同意に使われることもあるが、冬季は作付けせず、春早くから水稲の田植までの間にジャガイモや野菜を前作する場合も裏作とよばれることがある。

［星川清親］

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