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New method developed for protecting fertile black soil in northeast China

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      China

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      New method developed for protecting fertile black soil in northeast China

      2024-09-20 21:05 Last Updated At:09-21 00:07

      After years of experimentation, Lishu County in northeast China's Jilin Province, known for its fertile black soil, has developed an effective method for protecting and even enhancing this rare resource. Known as the Lishu Model, this approach utilizes locally grown maize straw to help prevent soil erosion.

      Black soil is dubbed the "giant panda of farmland." It is recognized as the most fertile soil in the world.

      The black soil in northeast China is one of four major chernozem regions around the world. Covering an area of 1.09 million square kilometers, it is also one of the most fertile regions in the country.

      But long-term cultivation and overuse of fertilizers posed threat to the local environment and grain production.

      According to Wang Guiman, director of the Agricultural Technology Promotion Center of Lishu County, protective cover is the key to treating black soil in northeast China, where the soil is vulnerable to wind and water erosion.

      "Simply speaking, the Lishu Model is to return maize straw to farmland as kind of mulch. More simply speaking, it is like putting on clothes for the farmland or covering it with quilts. The major reasons for black soil degradation are wind and water erosion. So, the straw cover can help the black soil to resist these forms of erosion," Wang said.

      Wang said that the Lishu Model can improve fertility while reducing cultivation, as it encourages farmers to use no-tillage sowing which can help to protect the top-layer soil.

      "In application of the Lishu Model, on the one hand, our technical system has been largely established. On the other hand, we have successfully developed and upgraded no-till seeders which can work in farmland covered by maize straw," Wang said.

      Back in the summer of 2020, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Lishu. He stressed effective measures to protect the black soil for future generations, and said the Lishu Model is worth promoting.

      With continuing innovation, the Lishu Model integrates comprehensive soil testing, a fertilization formula, as well as green pest control measures among other techniques.

      According to Zhang Yingnan, director of the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Lishu County, Xi's visit has encouraged them. Now Lishu's annual grain production has been stable at over two billion kilograms for a prolonged period. And this year the output is expected to exceed 2.25 billion kilograms.

      "The agricultural department in Lishu County has strictly followed General Secretary Xi Jinping's instructions in recent years, particularly regarding the protection of black soil, and we have achieved significant results," Zhang said.

      New method developed for protecting fertile black soil in northeast China

      New method developed for protecting fertile black soil in northeast China

      Next Article

      Transformation, upgrading of China's manufacturing investment accelerates in 2024

      2025-01-20 22:37 Last Updated At:23:07

      China in 2024 saw a faster transformation and upgrading of investment in manufacturing industry, a strong growth of investment in high-tech industries, and a rebound of investment in infrastructure construction, according to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Saturday.

      The investment in manufacturing industry grew by 9.2 percent compared to the previous year, or six percentage points higher than the growth rate of overall investment. In particular, investment in technological upgrades of manufacturing industry increased by eight percent, or 4.8 percentage points higher than overall investment growth.

      Private investment in manufacturing grew by 10.8 percent, driving up overall private investment by 5.3 percentage points.

      The structure of investment continued to optimize. Investment in high-tech industries rose eight percent compared to the previous year, which was 4.8 percentage points higher than the growth rate of overall investment. In particular, investment in high-tech manufacturing grew by seven percent, and that in high-tech service industry grew by 10.2 percent. Investments related to high-tech industries, such as aerospace equipment manufacturing and professional technical services, increased by more than 30 percent.

      In 2025, China plans to moderately increase central government budgetary investments, issue ultra-long-term special treasury bonds and local government special bonds, and enhance efforts to support projects for implementing major national strategies and building security capacity in key areas, as well as implementation of large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs, with the aim of stimulating private investment activity through various measures, effectively leveraging government investment to drive social investment, improving investment efficiency, and promoting steady growth in investments.

      Transformation, upgrading of China's manufacturing investment accelerates in 2024

      Transformation, upgrading of China's manufacturing investment accelerates in 2024

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