PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a soil observing instrument enabling constant observation of growth of roots and moisture content in soil without spoiling plant roots. SOLUTION: The soil observing instrument 3 is uprightly set into the ground between furrows each apart from the center part of a strawberry seedling 4 by about 30 cm when forming the furrows and spacing between the furrows. A lid member 33 is normally closed in order to make water get in through an observation opening part 31 when watering, and prevent soil exposed out of a soil observation opening part 32 from drying. For observing strawberry seedling roots 41, the lid member 33 is opened to look inside through the observation opening part 31 to observe the roots presenting at the inner face of a main body part 30. For observing the moisture content in soil, a user visually observes the soil through the observation opening part 31 or directly touches or scoops out the soil with his (her) hands inserted through the soil observation opening part 32 to observe and analyze the soil. Such observation and analysis make it possible to supply a proper amount of water and apply a proper amount of fertilizer. After observation, the lid member 33 is closed back again. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI
