[Farming in the 24 Solar Terms] Qingming: A good time to plant beans with drizzles

During the Qingming Festival, the weather is clear and bright, and everything is thriving. "A Hundred Questions on the Seasons" says: "All things grow at this time, and they are all clean and bright, so it is called Qingming." There are three signs of Qingming: the first sign is that the tung trees begin to bloom; the second sign is that the field mice turn into quails; the third sign is that rainbows begin to appear. The Qingming Festival is the critical period for spring plowing and planting. "The Twenty-Four Solar Terms Farming Song" says: "The grass starts to turn green during the Qingming Festival, and it is a good time to plant melons and beans. Plant trees and sugar beets, and choose good seeds for rice seedlings." So what are the agricultural meteorological and agricultural crops during the Qingming Festival?

What are the agricultural meteorological conditions in different regions during the Qingming Festival?

More precipitation in the south. The probability of precipitation in the south is relatively high at this time, and the rainfall in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River has increased significantly. Except for the eastern coastal areas, most areas in the south of the Yangtze River have precipitation of more than 100 mm in April. During this period, light rain and moderate rain accounted for the majority, and the rain was not strong, which is in line with the "rainy" scene described in ancient poems, but some places occasionally have heavy rain or rainstorms. South China is geographically located in the south and close to the ocean. When affected by the front formed by the confluence of cold and warm air, heavy rainfall begins to occur.

Precipitation is scarce in the north. It is not common throughout the country during the Qingming Festival. According to the statistical analysis of rainfall data from representative cities in the north and south, there is not much rain during the Qingming Festival in northern my country. The temperature rises quickly, and it is dry and windy. It is a period of the year with many sandstorms. The temperature in many areas of the north is 10 ~ 15°C in April.

Zhaganadar Village, Gannan, Gansu (Quoted from: Twenty-four Solar Terms Farming Video Series - Qingming)

The air is fresh and the temperature is getting warmer. During the Qingming Festival, the air is fresh and clear, and the climate is gradually getting warmer. The temperature in the Jianghuai region varies greatly, and unstable precipitation such as thunderstorms is gradually increasing. At this time of year, except for the northeast and northwest regions, the average daily temperature in most parts of China has risen to 12°C, and spring ploughing is everywhere.

What growth stages do crops enter during the Qingming Festival?

Wheat. "During the Qingming Festival, wheat grows three joints." Wheat in the south of the Huanghuai region is about to form ears, and wheat in the northeast and northwest regions has also entered the jointing stage. At this time, we should speed up the management of fertilizer and water and the prevention and control of diseases and insects. The moisture content of winter wheat in Yutian County, Tangshan City, Hebei Province is still good, and the seedlings are slightly better than in previous years. Farmers should strengthen field management in spring. For plots that were sown earlier last year and lacked base fertilizer, they should add water, apply quick-acting fertilizers, and press wheat in early spring. They should pay close attention to weather changes to prevent early spring frost damage.

Wheat fields in Yili, Xinjiang (Source: Twenty-four solar terms farming series video - Qingming)

Vegetables. "Melons and vegetables are planted in stages." Recently, at the winter farming vegetable base in Mengxian Town, Ning'er Hani and Yi Autonomous County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province, green beans, snow peas, and zucchini are growing well. Villagers are seizing the opportunity to carry out field management such as disease and insect control and insecticide, and a small number of zucchini have entered the harvest period, and the fields are busy. According to seasonal changes and market demand, winter farming vegetable planting adopts the "rotation planting" model. In addition to planting leafy vegetables, it also plants beans, long winter melons and other vegetables.

Rice. "Raising rice seedlings in a hurry." The dryland farming in the north and the early and medium rice in the south of the Yangtze River have entered the suitable season for large-scale sowing. We must seize the opportunity to sow early when the weather is sunny. The early rice planting in South China is finishing up, and weeding and fertilizing should be carried out in time. Recently, at a centralized seedling raising site in Caowei Town, Yuanjiang City, Hunan Province, the centralized early rice seedling raising has begun one after another. The villagers are busy placing seedling trays, laying bottom soil, sowing seeds, covering soil, and arching bamboo to cover the film. Raising rice seedlings is the key to a high yield of rice. The reporter learned from the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs today that in preparation for spring plowing, Hunan plans to implement 13.5 million mu of centralized early rice seedling raising in 74 key counties (cities and districts), and about 20% has been completed.

Fruit trees. "Pear blossoms are in full bloom during the Qingming Festival." At this time, many fruit trees enter their flowering period. Attention should be paid to artificial assisted pollination to increase the fruit setting rate. After the fruit trees encounter a late spring cold snap, timely measures should be taken to improve tree nutrition, postpone fruit thinning, perform artificial assisted pollination, and spray insecticides and fungicides.

Tea tree. "The tea before the Qingming Festival has two buds." The new buds of tea trees are growing vigorously, so we should pay attention to preventing and controlling diseases and insect pests; the famous tea producing areas have been harvested one after another, and strict and scientific harvesting and processing should be carried out to ensure the output and quality. Datang Village, Tangwan Town, located in the western mountainous area of ​​Tongcheng City, Anhui Province, is a traditional green tea production area. The tea industry is the pillar industry of their village. The village currently has 2,262 acres of tea gardens, including 150 acres of village collective tea gardens, 6 standardized tea factories, and an annual total output value of tea of ​​10 million yuan.

Shililangyao Tea Garden in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (Quoted from: Twenty-four Solar Terms Farming Video Series - Qingming)

In April, the Qingming Festival comes. The breeze turns into rain, and the longing lasts. The spring is fading, the grass is withering, and the scenery in the guest house is beautiful. It is Qingming Festival again. We miss our old friends in the spring scenery of the garden, and we also sow hope and capture fragrance in the vitality.

Author: Qian Qing (graduate student of College of Humanities and Development, China Agricultural University)

Scientific review: Hu Qi (Advanced Laboratory, College of Resources and Environment, China Agricultural University, Master's Supervisor)