Why are melons and fruits grown on saline-alkali land especially sweet?
"We saw a large expanse of saline-alkali land lying idle, which was too much of a waste, so we thought we should put it to use and not let it go to waste. So we set about transforming the saline-alkali land, using the advanced science and technology we had learned to improve the soil, plant all kinds of melons, fruits and vegetables, and at the same time build a leisure tourism area to drive innovative development. The saline-alkali land of the past has now taken on new vitality." Recently, Tang Xiaoming and Chen Zhao, the couple who run the Chunjiangyan Family Farm in Nong'an County, Changchun City, Jilin Province, told reporters this.
Nong'an County's Chunjiangyan Farm was established in February 2012 and is a modern ecological suburban tourism scenic area integrating fruit picking, fishing, entertainment, dining and vacationing. Speaking of the farm's development, the couple told reporters that as early as before 2012 they had tried growing rice, corn and other crops in the fields, but all failed, losing a large amount of money. However, they did not retreat because of failure; instead, they changed their approach, traveled around the country to learn, widely absorbed experience in transforming saline-alkali land from various places, innovated agricultural planting techniques, and founded the family farm.
In the early days of the farm, they had always been committed to improving the soil and water quality, using straw return to change the soil structure, and building greenhouses with geothermal heating laid inside. At the same time, they also purchased large water purification equipment to filter pure water that can be drunk directly, using it to irrigate muskmelons, eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, so that the fruits and vegetables also drink natural weakly alkaline mineral water. The farm has now completed an investment of 20 million yuan, with 435 sq m of special business buildings and 825 sq m of logistics service buildings. It has already built 22 greenhouses, 12 of which have geothermal heating, each covering 1000 sq m; and 10 ordinary greenhouses, each covering 2500 sq m.
Chen Zhao told reporters that the farm uses a membership system. Customers can register as members through the WeChat official account and other channels. After customers place orders online, the vegetables and fruits they need will be delivered to all parts of the country as soon as possible.
After touring the farm's greenhouses, the couple led the reporter to another area, where a stretch of water, a long corridor and pavilions appeared before the reporter's eyes, with some workers still working on the water. Just as the reporter was puzzled, the person in charge, Tang Xiaoming, cleared up the confusion. It turned out that Chunjiangyan not only wants to be a farm producing vegetables and fruits, but also an agricultural sightseeing tourism area. The place currently under construction is the leisure area, mainly building rockeries, waterwheels and other facilities. Later, fish fry will also be released into the water for tourists to fish, and in winter the climate characteristics of the north will be used to develop ice and snow sports. After all construction is completed, the entire farm will strive to become an intensive activity venue integrating tourism, leisure, fitness, dining, accommodation, entertainment and fruit-picking experiences.
Yang Qingying, our reporter Yan Hongyu