Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Crops
The increase in vegetation will, to a certain extent, promote local water vapor circulation. Although the effect is small given the current planting area, it can still play a role.
The Xisha area has not experienced natural rainfall during the non-rainy season for nearly a hundred years, and the conditions for artificial rainfall are not even available.
Because the Xisha region is located in a desert, the skies are often clear and cloudless, resulting in extremely low water vapor levels in the air. Artificial rainfall, on the other hand, involves converting water vapor trapped in clouds into raindrops. Therefore, in the absence of sufficient cloud cover, artificial rainfall is impossible, even with the necessary technology.
But tonight, it rained in Xisha District!
Soldiers patrolling the road and passersby, feeling the coolness and wetness brought by the rain, all thought they were hallucinating.
It was not until the raindrops grew bigger that everyone realized that it was really raining in the Xisha area.
"Is it raining?!"
"It's raining, it's raining! It hasn't rained in the Xisha area during the non-rainy season for many years!"
"Go out and take a look!"
"This must be because of Lord Ye Ning's ecological restoration area!"
"Yes, and the rain seems very clean!" Some people even couldn't help licking the raindrops falling on their lips.
After learning that it was raining, the researchers at the institute immediately got up and observed the situation outside.
They quickly arranged for people to go out and check various data before and after the rainfall.
In the planting area, rainwater not only moisturizes the surface desert, but also seeps into the deep soil little by little over time, providing precious water for the roots of plants.
When Ye Ning got up the next day, the rain had stopped.
However, near the planting area, after a night of rain, noticeable changes were observed. The green leaves of the plants were brighter, and the branches seemed to have grown taller. Succulents like cacti and agaves, having absorbed sufficient water after the rain, also appeared fuller.
Some of the herbs scattered around the planting area, which had been in a semi-dormant state, now showed amazing vitality. They emerged from the sand overnight.
Hou Lin looked at the plants that appeared at the door in surprise. He bent down, took a closer look, and took out his wristband to take pictures of the plants. "I didn't see these plants yesterday, but they appeared today."
Ye Ning also squatted beside them and touched the leaves of the plants, then explained to them, "These are small-flowered nepeta, that over there is striped-leaved alyssum, and this one is sharp-beaked scutellaria. They are all common herbs in the desert, with strong adaptability and vitality, and can use short bursts of water to grow rapidly. However, if they don't get water for a long time, they will wither quickly."
Hou Lin: "That's such a shame! We pass by here every day anyway, I can just water them when I get back."
Le Song also nodded quickly, "Or you can move them to the planting area."
Ye Ning stood up and said, "Let them grow naturally. There are actually quite a few seeds scattered around. This rain is neither too heavy nor too light, so it will give them a chance to germinate."
The seeds scattered around were mostly ordinary seeds, and some were dropped when she planned to rain a few days ago.
This area is continuously nourished by her special ability, so even ordinary seeds can successfully germinate if the conditions are right.
Cang Chen's eyes were always on Ye Ning. Although he watched Ye Ning's live broadcast in its entirety, only by staying in the planting area could he realize how great her existence was.
Moreover, the air in the desert after the rain has become noticeably fresher. The wind blowing across the ground no longer blows up coarse yellow sand onto people's bodies and faces as before. Instead, after blowing through large areas of plantations, it brings bursts of cool, fresh, and clean air.
In fact, if we really compare them, the benefits of drip irrigation far outweigh those of natural rainfall. This is because the water from drip irrigation can be directly delivered to the roots of plants, and the water source for drip irrigation is treated by them, making it cleaner and more nutritious, and having less impact on the ecological environment.
However, only natural precipitation can effectively make up for the water volume in water bodies such as groundwater, streams and swamps, and maintain the natural circulation of water resources.
Ye Ning: "Let's go, we'll be late if we don't go to the meeting room now."
She received the news early in the morning that the researchers asked her to attend a meeting.
The content of the meeting was mainly about the impact before and after rainfall, mainly focusing on three aspects: hydrology, ecology and soil.
In general, there was a positive impact on all three aspects.
"Yesterday's climate warning system did not make an early warning, and we have made more refined adjustments to the timeliness of the system's forecasts."
"This rainfall should be caused by severe convective activity, which is why it appeared so quickly."
"We've observed that plants are growing not only in the planting area, but also in other parts of the Xisha District. The district chief sent people this morning to move the plants in the urban area to a dedicated area for protection."
"However, due to the climate conditions and soil characteristics of the Xisha region, it is difficult to maintain large amounts of water resources for a long time under natural conditions."
…
But even if it was only a very short day, it was enough to make everyone excited, because the climate actually changed in a very short time!
Although it was Ye Ning who made the rain, she still listened very attentively, nodding her head as she listened.
"While it rains, we can release more animals into the planting area."
"In the swamp, you can release some animals like guppies, snails, and snails. Mosquito larvae are easily bred in the water, so you can also release some amphibians like frogs and toads."
The temperature in the planting area has been adjusted to a level that is very suitable for plant growth, neither too hot nor too cold, so the animals can survive well in it.
The system's set number of species is the minimum required to maintain ecological balance. In reality, a richer variety of species is more beneficial to the health of the ecosystem. However, the number of species and population size must be strictly controlled to prevent ecological imbalance.
After the meeting, Ye Ning was about to go to the planting room.
Shi Cong, who was standing by, walked over first.
"Lord Ye Ning."
Ye Ning paused and immediately searched for his name and information in her mind. He was the second place winner of this competition and the most capable researcher in the capital area.
She had heard from professors that he was about to be promoted to full professor.
Ye Ning smiled and said, "Do you have something to tell me? How about we talk while we walk?"
She was in a hurry to germinate the seedlings, and had to take out two hours of exercise in the afternoon. She also had to hold an ecological education day in a few days, so her schedule was really tight.
Shi Cong nodded and followed Ye Ning. Hou Lin and the others stepped back two steps to make room for him.
"Are you used to coming here?"
Shi Cong nodded and said, "You treat the researchers very well, and your colleagues are also very nice."
Although I haven't been here long, the research environment here is indeed much purer than in the capital. Everyone has their own things to do, there's not much intrigue, and everyone is willing to help each other.
They are all leaders in their respective fields, and it is incredible that they can live in such harmony.
Perhaps it was because of the successive interviews, or perhaps it was because Ye Ning's abilities far exceeded their imagination. In short, everyone seemed to be firmly integrated together by a magical force.
Ye Ning: "Just get used to it. You can tell them if you need anything."
With everyone working so hard, the logistics must keep up.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ye Ning asked him what he wanted to say to her.
Shi Cong passed on his plan.
High-Performance Seed Hybrid Breeding Program
"This proposal aims to explore and apply modern biotechnology to genetically optimize seeds, injecting new impetus into the ecological restoration and sustainable development of Dust Planet..."
If seed optimization is for ecological restoration, then this plan can actually be put on hold, because resources are limited. Her seeds are already very good, and it would be a waste of resources to invest manpower and material resources here now.
Ye Ning scrolled down and finally saw the specific species...
Rice, wheat and corn?
Ye Ning looked up at him.
Shi Cong said calmly, "Growing crops has been my dream since I was a child, and it's also the most important reason I came here. I hope to cultivate high-quality crops for the Sea Dust Planet so that the orcs can also eat crops."
"Don't worry, I won't delay the work at hand, nor will I waste the institute's resources. I won't give my research results to the Capital District without permission. But I do need your help to carry out this research."
During this time, he had witnessed Ye Ning's talent firsthand. Cultivating more efficient and high-quality crops had been his childhood dream.
But unfortunately, before Ye Ning showed up, all this was just a dream. It wasn't until the last visit that he saw with his own eyes the rice Ye Ning cooked with rice.
If Ye Ning could help him cultivate crops quickly, he would definitely be able to hybridize better quality and higher yielding crops soon!
Ye Ning was still looking at the plan and did not respond to him.
After a few seconds, the atmosphere froze, and Shi Cong felt a wave of disappointment and loss. However, he had been interviewed to help the institute promote ecological restoration, so making this request now was indeed somewhat inappropriate.
Shi Cong adjusted his mindset again, "Master Ye Ning, if you don't agree, then—"
Ye Ning looked at him and said, "I agree."
Shi Cong looked at Ye Ning in shock, and his originally lost eyes were now bright again.
She was just looking for relevant information. She had previously read about the hybridization of green bamboo and rice in the information brought by Little Mushroom. The product of the hybridization was "bamboo rice".
Bamboo rice is quite unique. Bamboo and rice may seem like two unrelated plants, but both belong to the grass family, so their overall growth process is very similar.
The combination of the two makes bamboo rice not only highly resistant to pests and diseases, but also highly productive, with the rice also having the delicate fragrance of bamboo. Furthermore, because the rice has bamboo genes, it grows extremely fast and can be harvested in just three months.
Anyway, any plant can absorb pollution and thus help the ecological recovery. She has been planting outdoors, and everyone can only look at it but not eat it. It is hard to guarantee that there will not be people who are interested in the planting area. If she can cultivate some high-quality crops and let everyone eat them first, it will be a good choice.
Ye Ning briefly told Shi Cong about the "bamboo rice" incident.
Not only Shi Cong, but Hou Lin and others around him were also very surprised.
Hou Lin: "Bamboo can also be combined with rice. Does that mean that rice grows on bamboo, or that the main trunk of rice has become like bamboo?"
Hou Lin swapped their positions in his mind.
He'd seen both bamboo and rice. The bamboo on the rooftop of Gaojiang District had already been moved outdoors. Like Xisha District, Gaojiang District had also built an ecological botanical garden. While the plants there weren't edible, it was still nice to go in and breathe in the clean air. Plus, with Ye Ning's endorsement and the claim of "personally planted by Ye Ning," tickets to the ecological park sold out a week in advance.
Ye Ning: "This is an isolated case. Most of the time, it's hybridization between different rice varieties."
Ye Ning looked at Shi Cong. "There's still a vacancy in the lab. I'll have someone arrange one for you. You can also look for other researchers who might be interested. If we can all work together, the progress will be faster. Tell me what crops you need, and I'll do my best to satisfy you. However, I won't delay your assigned work."
Shi Cong nodded immediately, his face full of excitement, his eyes shining brightly.
He always appeared calm, and Ye Ning could see that he was indeed very happy.
Ye Ning smiled, "Then go ahead and get busy. Tell me if you have any progress."
Shi Cong nodded again, and the look in his eyes when he looked at her was obviously more grateful. "Thank you, Master Ye Ning. I will definitely not delay my work."
Hou Lin watched Shi Cong leave before asking quietly, "Will this really not delay progress?"
Ye Ning shook her head. "Ecological restoration is already progressing very well, so in the long run, we should really consider agricultural issues more."
In fact, cash crops like potatoes and sweet potatoes can also be grown on a large scale in other regions. They have high and stable yields, simple growing conditions, short cycles, and rich nutritional value.
Most importantly, they could also bring a stable income to ordinary orcs. She could definitely advance both simultaneously.
We are so focused on ecological restoration that we ignore other aspects.
Ye Ning thought about it and told the professors at the institute about this matter directly, asking them to help move things forward quickly.
This matter is quite important. If everyone can eat plants and live on the economic chain of plants, more ordinary orcs will join in this planting.
As for Shi Cong, he was in a very good mood the whole day because he had Ye Ning's permission and support.
Two hours later, the research institute announced that it would set up a "Crop Hybrid Breeding" laboratory with him as the team leader.
Everyone around him patted his shoulders.
"Master Ye Ning not only agreed, but also took it very seriously. He even personally released the formation information for you."
"I just heard that it's because Lord Ye Ning feels that cultivating crops is indeed necessary, so that everyone can eat plants faster."
"But, you just mentioned it briefly, and Ye Ning agreed directly, even setting up a research lab for you. Lord Ye Ning thinks too highly of you."
"Yes, but you are already very capable, so it is only natural that Lord Ye Ning would value you."
Shi Cong: "Lord Ye Ning values everyone very much."
"That's true. The last time we met, Master Ye Ning even called me by my name. I worked at my previous research institute for a year, and the dean couldn't even remember my name."
Cang Hao had just returned from the Xisha District Teaching Department when he saw everyone gathering around Shi Cong for a heated discussion.
He looked towards Shi Cong.
Shi Cong has always been introverted, but at this moment he was very happy, with smiles on the corners of his mouth and eyes.
Cang Hao lowered his head slightly, his long and curled eyelashes covered his eyelids, and the blush at the corners of his eyes seemed to be more pronounced.
When everyone saw him coming back, they quickly pulled him over.
"Cang Hao, your brother is here too."
"Yeah, you and your brother really do look exactly alike."
"If you two stood together, I really couldn't tell them apart."
Cang Hao laughed and said, "Then I'll go find my brother first. I haven't seen him for a long time."
"He's always been with Master Ye Ning." The man glanced at his bracelet. "Master Ye Ning should be raising seedlings in Planting Room A at this time."
Cang Hao completed his teaching tasks and had a day of rest.
He walked towards the planting room in Area A according to the location the man said.
There were obviously the most guarding orcs here, and there were several layers surrounding the perimeter. He used biometric information to verify three levels before entering the planting room.
Ye Ning has been cultivating the seedlings here for two hours without stopping.
Seedlings and sprouts are two different states. Plants in the seedling stage have grown complete roots, stems, leaves and other organs, have relatively complete physiological functions, and can survive on their own.
Ye Ning managed to keep the cultivation time of a complete batch of seedlings within ten minutes. The surrounding Originium was transported in from various areas.
Although Ye Ning didn't really need it, the presence of the Source Stone could better explain her fast planting speed.
Ye Ning was extremely focused when planting, but her attention was not on the plants, but on her own special abilities.
Mobilizing her mental strength and using her supernatural powers at the same time allows her to feel clearer energy fluctuations.
It was as if she and the surrounding plants had become one.
She breathes at the same frequency as the plants, and can even clearly sense the condition of each plant. The entire seedling-raising process is more like a silent conversation with the plants.
I have never felt this way before.
So Ye Ning not only didn't feel tired during this period, but instead felt very happy.
But the people around me were not so comfortable.
This has been going on for several days, and everyone still finds it difficult to adapt to staying in the planting room.
Although the air was filled with a strong plant scent, the scent emanating from Ye Ning was extremely rich and pure.
If I have to say, it's like catnip that cats are addicted to. Just a slight sniff of it can make people feel comfortable and happy to the point of trembling.
So these few days, they only left Ye Ning indoors, and the rest of the people were separated from her by a transparent glass door, which allowed them to maintain their sober minds.
When Cang Hao came in, he saw Cang Chen and the others standing outside the door, looking at Ye Ning inside.
She was concentrating on cultivating the plants in front of her.
When Hou Lin saw him coming suddenly, he immediately made a gesture to him to keep quiet.
Cang Hao slowed down his movements and stood quietly outside the door with them.
After an unknown amount of time, Ye Ning's bracelet began to sound a reminder.
Only then did she stop radiating her supernatural powers and stood up from her seat.
When the people at the door saw that she was going to rest, they immediately prepared things and waited for her to come out.
Ye Ning didn't waste too much time and quickly walked out of the room, stretching her limbs.
The first thing Ye Ning saw when she came out was Cang Hao standing by the door.
He smiled brightly and opened the door for her before Le Song.
Ye Ning also smiled at him, "How is the training in Xisha District going?"
Cang Hao followed behind her. "It's not going smoothly. The quality of researchers in each district varies. They can't understand some very basic things. I have reorganized the information and sent it to them."
Ye Ning nodded. "The professor said you're amazing. Although you're young, you have a solid knowledge base and can explain the content in a simple and coherent way. That's why everyone likes your class very much."
Cang Hao seemed even happier. "Have you been paying attention to my situation as well?"
He used the word "also", and Ye Ning felt it was a bit strange at first.
Ye Ning nodded. "It's very important that you attend the class. Ecological restoration ultimately has to be implemented in each district. We can't help them supervise the entire process, so whether they can solve the problems that arise later will have a lot to do with your training."
"Thank you for your hard work these past few days. You've done a great job."
Ye Ning was not stingy with her praise for him. After all, everyone was very satisfied with his teaching level. Ye Ning also watched his classes. If he had not joined her research institute and became a teacher, he would definitely be very outstanding.
Cang Hao's smile became even brighter, "Master Ye Ning, I and——"
Le Song: "Ye Ning, come and eat something."
Le Song had already placed the contents of the fresh-keeping bucket on the table, which was a plate of snacks and a cup of mung bean milk.
That plate of snacks is the mung bean cake that the chef just invented today.
The molds used are plant molds, which make them look like three-dimensional plants.
Ye Ning ate a piece and thought it tasted very good. She pushed the mung bean cake towards the surface and said, "It's delicious. You guys should try it too."
Le Song quickly shook his head. "The chef said that this requires soaking a lot of mung beans, then peeling them and boiling them. It's a very complicated recipe. Ye Ning, just eat it."
The chef knows that she likes to portion things, so he always makes a little extra now.
As Ye Ning ate the mung bean cake, she felt that she should speed up the promotion of the crops.
She ate faster and drank the mung bean milk in the cup in one gulp.
Le Song quickly took out a towel to wipe her hands.
There were several pieces of mung bean cake on the plate. She took one of them out and handed it to Cang Hao, "This is for you. I'll also give you the next lesson."
"You guys can divide the rest."
Still need to plant for a few more hours.
This wave of ecological plant cooperation will be almost over in a few days. Then she will vigorously promote and plant crops.
Cang Hao looked at the mung bean cake in his palm, and a stronger light than ever before bloomed in his emerald eyes.
The strong sense of tacit understanding made Cang Chen keenly aware of his emotional fluctuations. He frowned slightly and stood beside Cang Hao.
Their eyes met, and Cang Hao smiled brightly at Cang Chen, "Long time no see."
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