A grain-growing champion shares his secrets for growing grain, teaching you how to grow good grain
"I've farmed all my life, and this is the first time I've received a 'high-yield red envelope' - my confidence in growing grain is even greater now." Wang Xinli, a villager from Wangzhuang Village, Quzhou County, couldn't stop grinning. On the evening of September 26, at the village's "Celebrating the Harvest Mid-Autumn Gala," Wang Xinli won the title of "High-Yield Champion" with an average wheat yield of 1427 jin per mu, and received a big "red envelope."
On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the cultural square of Wangzhuang Village was crowded and bustling. Graduate students from China Agricultural University and the villagers of Wangzhuang gathered together to celebrate the festival. The corn harvest was in sight, and winter wheat planting would soon begin. At the event, in addition to awarding prizes to 9 high-yield households and wonderful performances, there were also sessions for sharing high-yield experience and a prize quiz on high-yield, high-efficiency winter wheat technology.
This immediately caused an uproar.
"Xinli, your wheat yield is so high - tell us, what's your secret?"
"I used the high-yield, high-efficiency techniques from the Agricultural University teachers!"
"Maochan, you used less wheat seed than me and watered one less time than me, yet your yield is higher than mine - how does that work?"
"Last year I did deep plowing and wide-width sowing in the field, and all the later management was done according to the requirements of the 'small institute' teachers." Li Maochan, who won second place, played the role of "expert" in front of the villagers.
The "small institute" Li Maochan mentioned is called the Science and Technology Backyard, a grassroots science and technology service platform built by China Agricultural University in rural front lines, integrating agricultural science and technology innovation, demonstration and extension, and talent training. It is understood that in 2009, China Agricultural University established the first Science and Technology Backyard in the county; in March 2011, the Wangzhuang Village Science and Technology Backyard was established. At present, China Agricultural University has established more than 60 Science and Technology Backyards across the country, involving every aspect of agricultural production.
"Graduate students from China Agricultural University stationed at the Science and Technology Backyard carry out research on high-yield, high-efficiency technology while also providing social services and participating in rural cultural development." said Associate Professor Zhang Hongyan, a teacher stationed at the Quzhou Science and Technology Backyard of China Agricultural University. Since the establishment of the Wangzhuang Science and Technology Backyard, a total of 9 graduate students from 5 cohorts have moved in, introducing and researching 12 types of agricultural high-yield, high-efficiency technologies, introducing 8 types of agricultural machinery, holding two farmer field schools, carrying out nearly 100 various farmer training sessions, with technology reaching 5 surrounding villages and a radiation area of more than 10,000 mu, promoting full mechanization of grain production and repeatedly setting new record highs in yield.
Seeing that the villagers were interested in late-stage corn management techniques, Zhao Pengfei, a doctoral student at China Agricultural University, also explained on site the management techniques for the corn maturation period. Last October, Zhao Pengfei paid out of his own pocket in Wangzhuang Village to contract 13 mu of land at a price of 1000 yuan per mu, exploring the cultivation of double-season corn. Zhao Pengfei said that planting two seasons of corn a year, compared with the wheat-corn continuous cropping model, saves fertilizer, saves water, and is easier to manage under the same benefits. In addition to his own demonstration planting, he also led a large grain grower from a neighboring village to plant more than 200 mu, with good returns, and villagers often came to ask about planting techniques.
The night was already deep, but the event was still going on, and the graduate students were chatting enthusiastically with the villagers. "Teachers and students from the Agricultural University live in the countryside to do extension work and research, the county's farmers 'claim kinship' with China's highest agricultural institution in pursuit of high yields, and the people of Wangzhuang Village and the teachers and students of China Agricultural University are like family." said Wang Huaizhen, the village Party branch secretary. "Last year, the highest summer corn yield per mu reached 1896 jin. This year, the corn is growing beautifully, with long and thick ears, and has entered the full-ripening stage. It will be harvested soon - another bumper harvest year!"