The transformation to ecological agriculture has also had a positive impact on the village's ecological environment. The number of birds in the fields has increased significantly; they forage and roost, creating a vibrant scene. The water in the rivers has gradually become clearer, and due to reduced pesticide and fertilizer pollution, the variety and quantity of aquatic life have increased. Small fish and shrimp that had disappeared due to pesticide pollution have reappeared in the rivers, and children can once again see them swimming happily by the riverbank.
However, the road to transformation was not without its challenges. Some resistance was encountered in promoting ecological farming techniques. Some older villagers, accustomed to traditional agricultural methods, were less receptive to new technologies, perceiving ecological farming as complex and worrying about its impact on yields and income. To address this, Lin Yue organized more training and exchange activities, inviting skilled farmers and agricultural experts from the village to answer villagers' questions and share successful experiences. Simultaneously, an ecological farming reward fund was established to incentivize villagers who actively adopted ecological farming techniques and achieved positive results.
In the process of ecological agriculture transformation, different crops exhibit significant differences in ecological planting models, each with its own benefits. Taking wheat as an example, a crop rotation and fallow system is adopted, rotating it with legumes. The rhizobia in the root nodules of legumes can fix nitrogen, increasing the nitrogen content in the soil and providing natural nitrogen fertilizer for wheat growth. Before sowing, wheat seeds are treated with biological agents to improve seed resistance and germination rate. During the growing season, drones are used to monitor pests and diseases. Once signs of pests and diseases are detected, biological pesticides or physical control methods, such as using ultraviolet insect-attracting lamps to kill pests, are used promptly. Although the yield of wheat grown in this way is slightly lower by 5%-10% compared to traditional planting methods that use large amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the protein content is increased by about 10%, resulting in better flour quality and a higher market price.
Cash crops like cotton are intercropped with corn. The tall corn stalks provide shade for the cotton, reducing boll and flower drop caused by high temperatures. Pests like the bollworm are controlled by releasing natural enemies such as Trichogramma wasps, while planting nectar-producing plants around the cotton fields attracts parasitic wasps and other beneficial insects, creating a natural pest control system. The fiber quality of the cotton is significantly improved, with increased fiber length and strength, making it more competitive in the textile market and increasing profits by approximately 20% compared to traditional methods.
Fruit and vegetable crops are particularly benefiting from ecological farming models. Take strawberries as an example: elevated soilless cultivation technology uses organic substrates such as coconut coir instead of soil, avoiding the problems of continuous cropping and soil-borne diseases. Precision drip irrigation is used, supplying water according to the different growth stages of the strawberries, while beneficial microbial agents are added to the nutrient solution to promote root development. For pest and disease control, yellow and blue sticky insect traps are hung, using the attraction of color to attract pests, combined with the release of predatory mites and other natural enemies. Strawberries grown in this way have vibrant colors, a sweet and juicy taste, and a sugar content 2-3 degrees Brix higher than traditionally grown strawberries. They are very popular with consumers after entering the market and command prices 2-3 times higher than ordinary strawberries.
Ecological agriculture has a wide-ranging and profound impact on village biodiversity. In terms of insects, the reduced use of pesticides has led to a significant increase in the number of pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. Surveys show that bee populations in ecological agriculture areas are approximately 50% higher than in traditional agriculture areas. This increase in pollinating insects not only benefits crop pollination and yield but also promotes the proliferation of wildflowers and weeds. At the soil microbial level, the use of organic fertilizers and the implementation of ecological planting models provide soil microorganisms with abundant nutrients and a suitable living environment. The number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, and potassium-solubilizing bacteria, has increased dramatically, resulting in a richer and more diverse microbial community structure. Compared to traditional agricultural soils, ecological agricultural soils contain approximately 30% more microbial species, which play a crucial role in decomposing organic matter, improving soil structure, and enhancing soil fertility.
Lin Yue established an ecological agriculture reward fund totaling 100,000 yuan. Of this, 50,000 yuan is allocated to reward farmers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the application and innovation of ecological agricultural technologies. The evaluation criteria primarily include: whether ecological agricultural planting models are fully adopted, such as the proportion of organic fertilizer used, the effectiveness of biological pest control, and water conservation; whether the quality of agricultural products meets green and organic standards, judged through data tested by professional institutions; and the demonstrative and leading role for surrounding farmers, such as actively sharing experiences and helping other farmers to carry out ecological agricultural practices. Another 30,000 yuan is allocated to reward ecological agricultural cooperatives or collective organizations, based on their achievements in organizing farmers to carry out ecological agricultural production, unified procurement of production materials, and sales of agricultural products, as well as their contributions to promoting ecological agricultural knowledge and technical training. The remaining 20,000 yuan serves as a special fund for ecological agricultural research projects and the introduction of new technologies, used to encourage villagers and agricultural experts to collaborate on research and experiments related to the development of ecological agriculture in the village.
With the development of ecological agriculture, the village's industrial structure has undergone a series of chain changes. In agricultural product processing, due to the improved quality of ecological agricultural products, small-scale processing plants have been built in the village, such as organic flour mills and fruit canning plants. These plants use advanced processing technology to preserve the nutrition and flavor of agricultural products to the greatest extent, producing processed products with high added value in the market. However, the development process also faces challenges such as a shortage of technical personnel and the expansion of market channels. Lin Yue actively contacted relevant departments, invited food processing experts to the village for technical guidance, and organized villagers to participate in agricultural product fairs and cooperate with e-commerce platforms to broaden sales channels.
In terms of agritourism, the idyllic scenery of ecological agriculture has attracted numerous tourists. The village has launched an "ecological agricultural sightseeing tour" project, allowing visitors to tour organic farmland, participate in fruit and vegetable picking, and experience agricultural activities. This has not only increased the income of villagers but also promoted the dissemination of village culture. However, with the increase in the number of tourists, the carrying capacity of tourism facilities and the quality of tourism services are facing challenges. Lin Yue organized villagers to upgrade and renovate tourism facilities, such as building more parking lots and public toilets, and provided professional training to villagers engaged in tourism services to improve their service levels.
Looking at the fields undergoing profound changes, Lin Yue's heart was filled with hope. She knew that the transformation from traditional agriculture to ecological agriculture was an inevitable choice for the village to achieve green and sustainable development. Although many challenges awaited them, as long as the villagers remained steadfast in their beliefs and continued to explore and practice, the village's agriculture would surely usher in a new spring. This land would continue to nurture harvests and hope, laying a solid foundation for the village's prosperity and development, while also leaving a legacy of green mountains and clear waters and fertile fields for future generations.
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