Foreign media report: A large-scale field trial conducted by a team of Chinese scientists indicates that irrigation water treated with natural minerals exposed to sunlight may significantly boost crop yields by enhancing photosynthetic efficiency. The experiments spanned multiple regions across China’s north and south, encompassing crops including rice, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, and vegetables.
Data from the study show notable yield increases in certain crops, with rice achieving a maximum increase of 40.6%, wheat rising by 24.7%, sugarcane by 45.7%, and one trial of sweet potatoes recording an increase of up to 109.5%. The project's lead researcher, a professor at Peking University’s School of Earth and Space Sciences, stated that this technology differs from conventional methods reliant on seed improvement or increased fertilizer use. Instead, it focuses on optimizing water utilization and improving plants’ ability to absorb and utilize solar energy.
The research has been ongoing for over two decades. The team emphasizes its broad applicability across various irrigated crops. If future studies confirm its consistency and assess its scalability and cost-effectiveness, this approach—using treated irrigation water to enhance agricultural productivity—could emerge as a supplementary strategy for increasing food production capacity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877946006596620/
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