The Start of Autumn, or Liqiu, arrives at 7:42 PM today, marking a pivotal shift in the agricultural calendar. According to the ancient text "The Seventy-Two Phenological Solutions of the Moon's Order," this season signifies the gathering of yang energy and the maturation of all things. While it does not bring an immediate end to the heat, it serves as a critical transition point for farming activities.
Currently, the country remains in the peak flood season from late July to early August, with lingering summer heat and ongoing rainfall. This period is essential for the care of summer-autumn crops and the preparation for autumn-winter planting. The Start of Autumn is vital for agriculture, as folk wisdom says: "If you sit idle at the Start of Autumn, you'll go hungry next spring," reminding farmers to manage their fields promptly to secure a bountiful harvest.
Temperature Impact
Temperature not only affects humans but also significantly influences crop maturity speed. A farmer's proverb notes: "If the Start of Autumn is sunny, the farmer need not toil," meaning that warm temperatures near harvest time can accelerate the synthesis of ripening agents like ethylene and abscisic acid, speeding up crop maturation.
Moisture Impact
After the Start of Autumn, natural rainfall decreases, and soil moisture levels drop. As temperatures fall, crops require less water, and summer-sown crops begin to enter their final ripening stage, leading to natural fruit drop.
Light Impact
With the sun's shift, light intensity weakens, reducing photosynthesis. Combined with lower temperatures and less moisture, the production of ripening hormones increases, causing crops to mature and decline rapidly. This affects light-loving crops like rice, soybeans, corn, and sweet potatoes, accelerating their senescence. Thus, light plays a crucial role in late-stage crop development.
What Should Farmers Do After the Start of Autumn?
Around the Start of Autumn, high humidity and heavy rain pose risks of waterlogging, wind damage, and pest outbreaks. Farmers must manage their fields carefully to maintain stable yields.
· Drought Prevention and Drainage
The Start of Autumn is a period of vigorous growth for many crops: mid-season rice is flowering and fruiting, soybeans are podding, corn is tasseling and silking, cotton is bolling, and sweet potatoes are expanding rapidly. All require ample moisture, and drought can cause irreversible yield losses. Hence, the saying: "Rain at the Start of Autumn brings all harvests; no rain brings worry." Farmers should take measures to prevent drought and drain excess water to minimize adverse weather impacts.
· Field Management
A traditional practice called "autumn digging" involves weeding and tilling around the Start of Autumn. This helps remove weeds, loosen soil, and retain moisture. Some crops require furrow fertilization and hilling to promote root growth and lodging resistance, ensuring safe overwintering. Additional fertilizer applications may be needed to prevent late-season nutrient deficiency, which could reduce crop yield and quality.
· Pest and Disease Control
The Start of Autumn is also a peak period for pest infestations, including rice stem borers, planthoppers, cotton bollworms, and corn borers. Farmers should strengthen monitoring and control efforts, using physical, chemical, and biological methods tailored to specific pests on different crops as early as possible.
Autumn plowing cultivates the hope of harvest. Every act of land preparation, sowing, and care during the Start of Autumn builds momentum for a fruitful autumn and winter. The farming season is precious and waits for no one. By seizing this golden window for planting, practicing scientific cultivation, and managing fields meticulously, farmers can successfully conclude the summer crop season and ensure stable, high yields for autumn crops, keeping fields productive season after season and year after year. May all efforts in autumn labor lead to abundant fruits and grains in the fields.
Editor: Zhao Ningning | Supervisor: Xin Weiyuan | Chief Editor: Yang Gongyuan
Comments