Chapter 326 Planting
Intercropping mulberry and tea trees is a planting model that fully utilizes land resources and realizes agroforestry management, which can improve economic benefits to a certain extent.
However, this model requires good planning and design in the early stages, and strengthened refined management in the later stages, in order to fully tap the synergistic advantages of the two and achieve the goal of "supporting the long with the short, and replacing care with farming."
If Gu Jiayue did not have the system to help her, she would not dare to choose this difficult mode.
After all, look at so many farming stories, which heroine chooses this way of making a fortune?
Is it that they don't understand? No, it's that this model is difficult. If one thing goes wrong, then everything is lost!
But Gu Jiayue was not afraid, because she had a treasure trove of knowledge. Not only did she have a variety of planting books, but she could also buy videos to watch the planting process.
She is very confident that she can make this happen!
When the group reached the mountain, the farming experts brought by Zheng Qinghe looked at the two unfamiliar trees with some confusion.
Can these two trees really improve Annan’s economic situation as adults say?
I can't figure it out.
Zheng Qinghe also picked up a mulberry sapling. "Jiayue, how do we interplant mulberry and tea trees?"
When he was in Kyoto, he also visited tea gardens with his friends, but he had never seen mulberry trees planted in tea gardens.
Gu Jiayue did not keep everyone in suspense and waved everyone over, holding a sapling in each hand.
"First, let me talk about the benefits of intercropping mulberry and tea gardens."
From a spatial perspective, mulberry trees are deciduous trees and tea trees are evergreen shrubs. The two have different crown levels (mulberry trees are taller and tea trees are shorter), which can form a three-dimensional planting structure, make full use of light, air and other resources, and reduce competition.
From an ecological perspective, they can complement each other. The fallen leaves of mulberry trees can increase soil organic matter and improve soil structure. The roots of tea trees are shallow, while the roots of mulberry trees are deep, so they can utilize soil nutrients in layers and reduce nutrient loss.
Economically, this can lead to synergistic benefits. Mulberry leaves can be used for silkworm rearing and mulberry tea production, while tea can be harvested and sold. The two crops have different harvest periods (mulberry leaves are harvested primarily in spring and summer, while tea is harvested primarily in spring), allowing for diversified income and reducing the market risk of a single crop.
In summer, the mulberry leaves are dense, which can provide moderate shade for the tea trees (especially suitable for shade-loving tea varieties), reducing leaf burns caused by direct sunlight; in winter, after the mulberry trees shed their leaves, the tea trees can get more light, which is conducive to overwintering.
Gu Jiayue's explanation was very simple and easy to understand. These people were good at farming, so they understood it immediately after hearing it.
"Next, I'm going to talk about what kind of land should be chosen for planting."
When planting mulberry and tea trees, we must choose slightly acidic soil with deep soil layer, loose, fertile and good drainage (pH value of 5.5-6.5 is appropriate), and avoid heavy clay soil or low-lying waterlogged areas.
You should also choose a plot with sufficient sunlight but not direct sunlight. The slope should be gentle (5°-15°) to facilitate drainage and management. Flat land needs to be well planned to prevent water accumulation.
Gu Jiayue was drawing on the ground with branches while she was talking, and everyone was listening very attentively.
"Okay, what I'm going to talk about next is the most important thing. It's the planting methods and steps of mulberry and tea trees. Everyone needs to listen carefully. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."
Gu Jiayue picked up a hoe and started digging while explaining. Everyone was watching her movements intently. Zheng Qinghe even took out a pen and notebook to carefully take notes.
After a brief explanation, most people knew what to do. Some of the more perceptive ones had already picked up their hoes and started working.
A few of them were slow to respond and kept asking Gu Jiayue several questions, which she answered one by one.
One of the elders remained unconvinced. "Young lady, I think your workshop is a bit childish. These mulberry trees will surely grow luxuriantly. If the tea trees are planted underneath, won't the sunlight be completely blocked? How will they grow?"
Gu Jiayue was not angry either. She had been questioned all along and she was used to it.
And, in fact, she prefers people who give her difficult problems.
"Uncle, I have just told you the benefits and advantages of interplanting these two trees. It's your own problem if you don't understand." Gu Jiayue likes students who ask questions, but will not tolerate those who deliberately find fault.
"You! You're not explaining clearly, so why should I ask you?"
Before Gu Jiayue could say anything, Zheng Qinghe was already dissatisfied. "If you really don't understand, go back first. I don't need you for this job!"
Although the land in Annan County is barren and the economy is backward, it is not difficult to find a few farmers who know how to farm.
The old man didn't expect that a county magistrate would speak for a woman. He originally thought that Gu Jiayue was young and wanted to make a presence with his experience and prove his profound agricultural knowledge and ability to Zheng Qinghe.
I didn't expect that it would backfire.
He knelt down quickly. "Please spare my life, sir. That's not what I meant."
"Hmph, Chen Ah Da, send him down the mountain!" Zheng Qinghe was not someone to be trifled with. He was incredibly arrogant. Back in Kyoto, aside from the royal princesses and the princes, and Jiang Luli, the entire circle of powerful and influential people had to flatter him.
After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and ignored everyone. Instead, he followed Gu Jiayue's example, picked up the mulberry seedlings and started planting.
Zheng Qinghe was in charge of digging the hole, while Gu Jiayue placed the sapling in the hole and then added fermented fertilizer. Zheng Qinghe then filled the hole with the soil he had dug out.
The busy schedule lasted until noon. Looking at the sun already high in the sky, Gu Jiayue paused. "Let's take a break, go home and have dinner, and then come back."
Zheng Qinghe also straightened up, "Then you go back first, I will continue to plant this piece."
Gu Jiayue looked at the place he pointed to. There was still a large area of space left. How long would it take to plant the crops?
He is the county magistrate. How can you let him work on an empty stomach?
Thinking of this, Gu Jiayue reached out to grab the hoe from Zheng Qinghe's hand.
Unexpectedly, Zheng Qinghe suddenly screamed with a very ugly expression. Gu Jiayue looked down and saw that there was blood on the hoe stick in her hand!
"you……"
Zheng Qinghe stretched out his hand. "It's nothing. I've never done such heavy work before, so I have a few blisters on my palms that have broken."
Gu Jiayue was anxious. "How can he be fine? Let's go back and apply medicine!" Without thinking too much, she pulled Zheng Qinghe's sleeve and walked down the mountain.
Zheng Qinghe fell behind by a step, looking at the little hand holding his sleeve, his already restless heart began to beat again.
Thinking back to the letter from Kyoto I received yesterday. Kyoto is not at peace right now, and Jiang Luli is trapped there by royal affairs and won't be able to return for a while. So, could he try to gain some ground during this period?
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He even considered whether he should write a letter back to Beijing and ask them to cause trouble for Jiang Luli, so that he would not be able to come back.
Although this isn't what a gentleman does, a gentleman loves a beautiful lady. There's nothing that can be done about it, right?
If I succeed in pursuing Jiayue, I will definitely let Jiangshan sit at the main table!
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