Abstract

The land use patterns of upland farming area in Horigane, Sayama city, Saitama Prefecture during Meiji era, Showa era and the present-day are studied mainly in relation to the physical environments, using Multivariate Analysis 0 (Quantification method II) of grid data sets in the Area. The data sets for the analysis are arranged as 1/10 grid of JIS tertiary grid coordinate system. The Study area of around 800ha is covered with 790 pixels.The Area is characterized by flat terrain of uplifted land (EL 40m-60m), deep black soils (Andosols) derived from tephla deposits and intensive upland vegetable farmings.Land use distribution patterns in Meiji era, Shows era and the present-day are also examined and changes of land use during Meiji era and the present-day in the Area is clarified as follows;-Quarter of wood lands in Meiji era were developed to house lots in present-day and upland farming fields.-Farm lands cover around 50% of the total area of the Horigane in both Meiji era and the present-day.-Tree crop lands were mainly changed to upland fields and many upland fields around house lots were changed to house lots from Meiji era to the present-day.-Many complex areas of house lots, farm lands and wood lands occur in the present-day landuse with expansion of house lots area.Through the study, the mesh scores of three (3) sets which are obtained as results (Quantities) of the Quantification method II analysis are estimated and are as follows;-Quantity 1 which is a mesh score set of highest correlation coefficient indicates the score dividing farm lands from wood lands.-Quantity 2 which is a score set of second highest correlation coefficient indicates the score separating house lots from the others.-Quantity 3 which is a score set of lowest correlation coefficient indicates the score separating tree-crop lands from the others.Acoording to the results of the analysis, it is considered that geo-morphological classifications, soil series, slope classifications, elevation classifications and accessibility to road network are the major environmental factors affecting the distribution of land use in this Area. The main factors that decide each land use distribution are estimated as (1) farm lands mainly found on lower lands, soil series of moisture to wet conditions, and lands with poor accessibility to roads, (2) wood lands mainly on sloping or uplifted lands and soil series of dry or wet. (3) house lots on lands with good accessibility to roads and lower convex lands.

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