Chapter 151 Root System (Medium Cup) (Ch 818292307)

About half a year ago, when Jiang Miao was tidying up the experimental fields, he discovered that three new varieties of soybeans showed a kind of “atavism”.
In many people’s impressions, crops such as soybeans, rice, corn, wheat, and millet are usually planted once, harvested, and then replanted the next year.
But in fact, this is a wrong perception.
The vast majority of herbaceous crops currently cultivated by humans, whether they are legumes, grasses, or crucifers, grow annually or in one season. This is due to human breeding, not because they are naturally like this.
Friends in the south who have grown rice more or less know that after the rice is harvested, if its root system is not damaged and with proper maintenance, it can have a second spring.
In other words, a large part of the ancestors of the herbaceous crops currently cultivated by humans were perennial herbs.
Among the ancestors of soybeans, there were also perennial types.
In fact, some wild soybean varieties in the southern region still retain perennial growth characteristics.
Among the mother plants that Jiang Miao uses to breed new varieties, there are several wild soybean varieties. Although after hybridization and gene-induced mutation, the genes of these wild soybeans only account for one-eighth of the genetic genes in the new varieties of soybeans.
However, due to the induced mutation, the three new varieties all showed the property of water-storing root tubers, which led to the activation of the perennial gene group hidden in the genes of the new soybean varieties.
In the experimental field, the soybeans took root and sprouted again about half a month after being harvested. As long as there is enough fertilizer, light and heat, they will soon bloom and bear fruit.
And because the root system already exists and is relatively mature, the legumes themselves are gifted with nitrogen-fixing nodules. After a quarter of growth, a large number of nitrogen-containing nodules are formed, providing sufficient organic nitrogen for the next growth.
At the same time, another characteristic of the new soybean variety – water-storing root tubers – provides a large amount of water, vitamins, and a small amount of sugar and amino acids for the secondary growth of soybeans.
In fact, the root tubers of these new varieties of soybeans are somewhat similar to another branch of the legume family: Pueraria lobata.
Although the starch content of the soybean root tubers in the Senzu series is not high compared to the Pueraria root of Gan Ge, the water content is as high as 83%, the starch content is about 3%, the remaining 12.8% is cellulose, 0.7% is fructose, and 0.5% is other ingredients.
It can be seen that the root of the magic bean is similar to the fruit of the root family – yacon.
Of course, the root of the fairy bean cannot be eaten as a fruit or a vegetable, because it contains a considerable amount of trypsin inhibitors and soybean lectins. If it is not fully cooked, eating it will cause poisoning.
With the root tuber, the perennial characteristics hidden in the genes of the Senzu beans are directly stimulated.
As long as a certain amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and trace elements are added, and plant growth hormones and foliar fertilizers are sprayed once, the growth cycle of the second crop of beans will be much shorter than the first crop.
It will germinate on the 12th to 15th day, bloom on the 28th to 30th day, start to pod on the 33rd to 35th day, the flowering period ends on the 50th to 55th day, the first batch of pods begin to mature on the 65th to 68th day, and all the pods are mature and can be harvested on the 85th to 90th day.
The per-acre yield of the second crop of fairy beans, measured in the experimental field, was not much different from that of the first crop.
Although the growth cycle is more than ten days shorter, the second crop has inherent advantages.
Of course, if it were only this way, a second crop would still not be possible in the southern part of the desert.
After all, the frost-free period in Jilimu City is only 140 to 160 days a year. After cutting off the beginning and the end, it is impossible to guarantee the growth of two seasons of soybeans.
What really surprised Jiang Miao was the cold-resistant characteristics of the Senzu Bean series. He simulated the climate of southern Mo Nan in the laboratory and found that the roots of Senzu Bean could safely survive the winter in southern Mo Nan, and then begin to sprout rapidly in March of the following year. The seedlings can withstand minus 10 degrees Celsius, and as long as the daytime temperature is above zero, they will begin to sprout wildly.
It starts growing in mid-March and can be harvested after 90 days, which is around mid-June.
After the harvest, the secondary growth begins in early July, and all the pods are mature in early October. Considering the need to increase nutrient accumulation, the harvest is delayed to the end of October. After the harvest is completed, it is just the beginning of November.
In early November in the southern part of the desert, the temperature is generally below zero, which will inhibit the underground roots of the magic beans from sprouting again, forcing them to retain a large amount of nutrients and water to survive the winter.
This makes it possible to harvest two crops of soybeans a year, and using this method, there is no need to sow once a year or water the crops.
Only when the Senzu Bean series is sown by seeds, artificial watering is required in the early stage of germination to increase its germination rate and growth rate.
In Jiang Miao’s experimental field, the first batch of Senzu soybeans planted had completed the third harvest in March this year. The yield not only did not decrease, but increased by about 10%.
In particular, in the experimental field that simulated a part of the sandy environment, the yield of the third crop of soybeans increased by about 17%.
The reason for this is that the roots continue to expand into the surrounding sandy soil layer.
In red soil clay farmland and rice clay farmland, it is not conducive for the soybean root system to expand rapidly and penetrate deep into the ground.
And in the sandy farmland, the Senzu Bean series showed an extremely crazy side.
Their first taproot system is concentrated at a depth of 0∽30 cm, and a small part of the capillary roots can reach a depth of 110 cm.
By the second crop, their taproots extend to a depth of 50 to 60 cm, and their capillary roots extend to a depth of 150 to 170 cm.
By the third crop, the taproot system further extended to a depth of about 100 cm, and the capillary roots extended to a depth of 270 cm.
At the same time, the weight and number of their root tubers will continue to increase, from 10∽15 tubers and 3∽5 kilograms in the first crop; to 20∽30 tubers and 6∽10 kilograms in the second crop; to 40∽60 tubers and 12∽20 kilograms in the third crop.
This is also the reason why the yield of the Senzu series will surge starting from the third crop, because too much water and nutrients are accumulated in their roots.
Of course, root tubers are not without their drawbacks.
For example, many rhizomes will take root and sprout, which will result in one soybean plant producing more than a dozen plants in the second crop. However, this can be done by manually weeding, removing some of the excess shoots, and strengthening the stem by removing branches, thereby ensuring the yield.
However, by the third crop, Jiang Miao estimated that the root system of the magic beans had reached a limit.
This is determined based on the density of farmland planting.
The surrounding areas are all filled with the roots of other soybeans, so there is naturally no way for the main root system to expand. If it were in a natural environment, it is estimated that the root system of the Senzu beans would continue to expand in all directions until the day it reaches the end of its life.
The genes of the Senzu beans contain gene fragments of the short-staple wild soybean, which is also a perennial soybean variety. It can usually survive in the wild for about 3 years, but its maximum lifespan can reach 10 years.
Judging from the current situation, Jiang Miao estimates that under artificial cultivation conditions, the maximum lifespan of the Senzu Bean series should be 6 to 7 years.
However, considering that the yield of perennial plants will decrease in the later period, the old plants can be removed in the fifth year and new seedlings can be replanted.
Of course, you can also dig up the soybean roots underground and use them as seeds, which is similar to using bean seeds, and can even ensure faster growth in the early stages.
The effect of the Senzu Bean series on the transformation of sandy soil is also amazing.
The legume family itself will form large nitrogen-containing nodules on its roots. Coupled with the huge root system and increasing root tubers of the Senzu bean series, this will cause the organic matter in the soil to soar.
In fact, if you do the math, you will know that because there are about 15,000 Beans in the final stage per acre, and the root system and tubers of a single plant weigh about 30 kilograms in total. Excluding water, there are about 7.5 kilograms of cellulose, starch, fructose, vitamins, inorganic salts, etc., which can increase 112.5 tons of dry matter per acre.
Adding the two crops of dead branches and leaves on the ground every year, each plant can produce about 40 to 50 grams of dry matter per crop, which means 6 to 7 tons of dry matter in 5 years.
Taking into account natural decomposition and plant consumption, about 75 tons of organic matter will be added to the soil, equivalent to 11.25 cm thick black soil.
The current black soil layer in Northeast China has dropped from 70 to 100 centimeters thick in the last century to only 20 to 40 centimeters.
Planting Senzu soybeans for a five-year cycle is equivalent to creating 11.25 cm thick black soil.
Even if there is an overcapacity in soybean production in the future, the farmland that has been transformed by Senzu soybeans can be used to grow some drought-resistant crops.
As long as irrigation can keep up, you can even consider growing some crops that require less water.
However, in the southern desert region, it is estimated that only the eastern part can barely grow non-drought-resistant crops, while the central and western parts of the southern desert can only grow soybeans.
However, the Northeast region can consider using Senzu soybeans to conserve the black soil. By planting Senzu soybeans for five years, a 10-11 cm organic soil layer can be restored, and then high-intensity cultivation can be carried out for five years. Repeating this process can basically ensure that the organic matter content of the black soil in the Northeast will not fluctuate greatly.
This is not only effective for the black soil in Northeast China, but also can have a good conservation effect on the farmland in the Loess Plateau and the North China Plain.
After all, in recent decades, the organic matter content in farmland soils on the Loess Plateau and the North China Plain has declined sharply, and the current price of organic fertilizers on the market is not cost-effective. For farmers, supplementing large amounts of organic fertilizers is a considerable expense.
You can use the rotation method to divide the land into two parts, one part for planting wheat, corn and millet, and the other part for planting peas and soybeans, and then exchange the crops after five years.
Moreover, the precipitation and light and heat conditions in the North China Plain and the Loess Plateau are much better than those in the south of the desert. The accumulation rate of dry matter in the roots of the soybeans will be accelerated. If the land utilization rate is taken into consideration, the roots of the soybeans can be crushed and returned to the fields in the third year.
However, Jiang Miao also knew that it was difficult to acquire large tracts of farmland in the densely populated North China Plain. In addition, the conflicts between local people and land were severe. Therefore, Hailufeng Company would not join in the fun in the North China Plain. Instead, it would just sell seeds directly.
The terrain of the Loess Plateau with its numerous gullies and ravines, coupled with local environmental protection requirements, also makes it unsuitable for Hailufeng Company to enter.
This is also the reason why Jiang Miao chose the eastern part of Mo Nan as the first batch of large-scale experimental fields.
…
After inspecting the main base, Jiang Miao came to the nearby second base, which is near the Yinsha Bay Scenic Area.
This base also covers an area of ​​500 acres and is also located behind residential houses not far from the highway. It was transformed from a large piece of sand.
The person in charge of this base is Wu Song, the deputy manager of the Mo Nan branch. He is a local. Wu Song is only his Chinese name. He also has another name, Narisu Wulianha.
“Da Song, what is the current situation of this base?”
Since they had already had dinner together last night, Jiang Miao naturally knew the other person’s name and nickname.
Wu Song smiled bitterly and replied, “Boss, the engineering team is not big enough right now, so we surrounded this place with concrete pillars and barbed wire, and put four container houses here.”
“We can ask the local construction unit to arrange the construction of sheep sheds and cattle sheds as soon as possible.” Stepping on the soft sand, Jiang Miao came to the sand dune.
Looking around, the desert dunes here are taller and denser.
Next door is the 33,000-acre Yinsha Bay scenic area, where many tourists are riding on sand off-road vehicles, feeling the desert style under the biting cold wind.
“The sand dunes in this desert are too big. There is no need to transform them. Just sow soybean seeds and alfalfa seeds directly.”
After Lv Weibin came to investigate, he found that the area of ​​mobile sand dunes in the desert was very large. He gave Jiang Miao a suggestion last night: “I think so too.”
In addition to soybean kernels which can be used as oil and feed, soybean sprouts can also be used as forage, and the effect is similar to that of alfalfa.
Therefore, after the inspection, Lu Weibin decided to be a little extravagant and directly mix alfalfa and soybeans without modifying the sand dune terrain.
When the grass grows to about 80 days, it can be harvested directly and all the fresh grass and pods can be crushed into grass powder, which can be directly fed to cattle and sheep or used as silage.
Of course, the consequence of not transforming the terrain is that bean sprouts and alfalfa in some areas cannot be harvested mechanized.
But this doesn’t matter, because the bean sprouts and alfalfa that cannot be harvested can be grazed and eaten by cattle and sheep.
Therefore, for these 350,000 acres of desert, those that are easy to transform will be transformed into soybean fields that can be mechanized on a large scale. For those that are too difficult to transform, they will simply be bypassed by laying grass grids to fix them first, and then sowing soybean and alfalfa seeds and using them as pastures.
Lv Weibin has sent people to use drones to take aerial photos and map the rough terrain of the Taminchagan Desert. Its large moving sand dunes and semi-moving sand dunes cover an area of ​​about 70,000 acres, and together with the affiliated areas, it covers an area of ​​about 100,000 acres.
Wu Song took a sip of water and said, “Boss, I think we can add a batch of straw grid layout vehicles.”
“Okay, you send the list to the purchasing department.”
Liu Zhiben, with chapped lips, wiped his eyes blinded by the wind and sand, and said, “Boss, if we can only transform 200,000 mu of desert this year, I suggest that we sow soybeans and alfalfa in the rest of the desert. We have enough seeds anyway.”
“You can make arrangements based on the situation.”
Lu Weibin took off his sunglasses and said, “If this is the arrangement, Boss, I think it is necessary to purchase a batch of large combine harvesters. Although we can hire local combine harvesters, their scale cannot meet our needs. Even the harvester team under the Beidahuang Group has a harvesting time similar to ours. In addition, the distance factor may cause our soybean fields to miss the harvesting time.”
Jiang Miao also thought this arrangement was appropriate: “Do the math and try to buy large combine harvesters with higher work efficiency to reduce the number of drivers hired.”
“Okay.” Lv Weibin added with a smile: “In fact, we have deployed large-scale combine harvesters. If there are other growers around, they will definitely need them, and we can earn some harvesting fees at that time.”
“Don’t worry about spending money. Spend it now and you’ll make it back soon with interest.”
With a mouthful of sand in his mouth, Jiang Miao quickly got down from the sand dune and rinsed his mouth with mineral water. In this season, the wind in Jirim City is strong and the sand is abundant, especially at the edge of the desert. He was covered in dust in a short while.
Got in the pickup truck.
Jiang Miao managed to find some joy in the midst of hardship, and said with a smile: “If I have the chance to come again next year, I probably won’t see this dust storm.”
“That’s very possible.” Lu Weibin has seen the performance of the Senzu Bean series in the laboratory sand.
“Boss, you may be disappointed.” Wu Song smiled bitterly: “The sandstorms here are caused by local factors and partly by our northern neighbors. Even if we turn the entire desert in the south of Mo into grassland, we can only reduce the sandstorms, but there is no way to completely avoid them.”
“Mobei?”
“That’s it.”
Everyone was chatting.
After a while, the convoy arrived at another place, also by the river where livestock were raised.
The sign at the door has been replaced with a new one, which reads: Hailufeng Company (Monan Branch) Kulun Breeding Base.
Entered the breeding base.
There were quite a few bleating small-tailed Han sheep inside.
After getting off the bus, there was a smell of sheep and cow dung mixed with a hint of grass. The locals were used to it and could hardly smell it, but Jiang Miao, who had just arrived, was so overwhelmed by the smell that it took him a few minutes to recover.
“Boss, the smell from the sheep shed is a bit strong.” Lu Weibin handed him a bottle of white flower oil.
After taking a sip of the white flower oil, Jiang Miao perked up: “This smell is indeed a bit unpleasant for those who are not familiar with it.”
Wu Song said to divert attention: “Boss, this breeding base was invested by a company from southern Hebei. However, due to the low prices of beef and mutton in the past two years, and the company’s funding problems, we acquired it.”
“How many cattle and sheep can be raised on this base?” Jiang Miao asked, looking at the many empty sheep sheds.
Wu Song replied: “We can raise 15,000 sheep or 5,000 cattle, but the company’s fodder is not enough, and the price of beef and mutton is low. Their stock has been decreasing in the past two years. Currently, they only have 1,700 small-tailed Han sheep.”
“We need to expand the scale and fill up the stock of this base.” Jiang Miao turned his head and looked at Liu Zhiben: “Zhiben, you arrange the supporting facilities, whether it is forage processing equipment, organic fertilizer fermentation facilities, or veterinary equipment, they must be implemented as soon as possible.”
“No problem.” Liu Zhiben nodded.
In fact, there are both advantages and disadvantages for Hailufeng Company to enter the breeding industry in southern Mobei.
The advantage is that the prices of mutton and beef are low, so it is easier to purchase lambs and calves on a large scale, and even to buy a lot of breeding sheep and cattle.
The downside is that we have to face low market prices.
However, for Hailufeng Company, the current market price is nothing. At most, it can use its own pasture grass, which can greatly reduce costs.

Người mua: TheAn, 16/12/2024 10:00