DIRECTIVE ON WINTER WHEAT CULTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE OF CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700090596-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2011
• Sequence Number: 596
• Publication Date: December 10, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED
CENTRAL INTEI,LIGffe AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Economic - Agriculture, wheat
HOW
PUBLISHED Daily newspaper
WHERE
PUBLISHED K'ai-feng
DATE
PUBLISHED 7 Sep 1952
LANGUAGE Chinese
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CD NO.
DATE OF
DATE DIST. /0 Dec 1952
NO. OF PAGES 4
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
DIRECTIVE ON WISTER WHEAT CULTURE
OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE OF CHINA
jummary: A Ministry of Agriculture directive on methods of in-
creasing the prodretion of winter wheat emphasizes that while high
production records of wheat have been made recently, there are still
much greater possibilities ahead. The long directive gives details
on methods of plowing, cultivating, irrigating, fertilizing, and
planting to increase production. It stresses taking advantage of
modern Soviet practices and advocates deeper plowing and wider seed
beds with less space between the rows. The directive also discusses
types of fertilizers and methods of applying them. It stresses the
importance of seed selection and preparation and the careful adher-
ence to proper planting schedules./
In a recent directive on techniques to be employed in increasing winter
wheat production, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Central People's Govern-
ment states that general wheat production over the country now exceeds prewar
production. Patriotic emulation programs have resulted in many new high pro-
duction records and developed many new scientific skills. Nevertheless, there
are still many situations which militate against the possibilities of wheat pro-
duction increases. To assist in meeting the goal of the Central People's Gov-
ernment for increased production per unit of area and in accord with modern
Soviet practice the following outline is offered:
1. Plowing
Early and deep plowing is an effective measure to combat drought and
protects land newly opened to cultivation. Deep plowing improves soil texture,
strengthens fertility, and preserves moisture. It is good for the wheat root
system and effectively kills weeds. Most of the rainfall is in July, August,
and September in from one third to three fifths of the wheat-growing area. Deep
plowing and cultivation keep the fields in shape during the dry months. Deep
plowing, 5-7 inches deep, will result in more moisture storage if it is done early.
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In one-crop areas a variety of cultivation methods should be used to
take the greatebt possible advantage of late summer rains. After rainfall the
ground should be plowed deeply and crop roots and other vegetable matter turned
under, but not harrowed. The land should be permitted to leach in-the sun and
wind. Later, according to rainfall conditions and grass growth, it vbould.be
given shallow cultivation. Before seeding it should be cultivated again 2-3
inches in depth. After that it should be harrowed and packed to produce uni-
formity.
In areas where two crops are produced in one year or three crops in 2
years, wheat may be interplanted with summer crops to take advantage of late
suer rains.
In some areas the peasants have the habit of turning the ground to a
depth of a foot or more with a spade every 2 or 3 years. This is a valuable
practice.
In arid areas peasants should be encouraged to gather snow and ice in
winter and put it on the land to build up the moisture content. South of the
Yangtze River drainage should be controlled in preparation for wheat planting.
In the north, where the spring season is dry, harrowing will conserve
soil moisture, provide soil ventilation, and promote growth of soil bacteria.
At the same time, bacteria and insect eggs on plant leaves will be dislodged,
and weeds will be killed, but wheat growth will be greatly promoted. Harrowing
should begin in the spring as soon as the frost is over. Before harrowing ferti-
lizer should be applied. After this hoeing will be unnecessary except when ap-
plying fertilizer, irrigating, or loosening the soil after a rain.
2. Close Planting
Close planting is an advantageous method of using the soil and pre-
venting evaporation and weed growth. It is also h most effective means of in-
creasing crop yields. A shortcoming in present methods is havdng the seed row
too narrow and the rows too far apart. To increase the yield per unit of area
it is necessary to widen the seed bed in the rows and narrow the space between
rows.
In row-planting areas where the distance between rows is 6-8 inches
the seed should be planted thicker and the rows closer. Where rows have been
one to 1 1/2 feet apart inter-planting of one or two rows should be practiced.
Where irrigation is practicable the Shantung method of planting in furrows
about 6 inches wide and about 6 inches apart is a good one.
South of the Yangtze River in paddy rice country wheat should be planted
in raised plots about 3 feet high for ease in draining. In upland areas where
cotton is to be planted as a second crop, wheat should be planted in raised beds
about 4 feet wide with a foot between rows to allow for interplanting of cotton.
By the various methods suggested above the amount of seed planted can
be increased from 14 to 34 catties per mou. If sowing is early this can be re-
duced, if late, it should be increased. In upland soils less seed should be
sown, in moist and fertile soils more seed should be sown. If spring wheat seed
is used for winter planting more will be needed.
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The initial and subsequent applications of fertilizer should be increased
to maintain the wheat-nutrient requirements of the soil. The present practices
of applying fertilizer are inadequate. All localities should set norms for basic
and follow-up fertilizer application in accord with local conditions and should
eliminate both insufficient fertilization and the blind overfertilization prac-
tices now found. Abundant wheat production is dependent upon setting the.proper
norms based on the nature of the soil, type of fertilizer-, and needs of the grow-
ing crop after experimentation. Below are some principles, based-on experience,
to be followed:
A basic factor for good wheat production is the use of organic ferti-
lizer. Stable manure mixed with phosphates and potassium is best for initial
use to increase the resistance of wheat to cold, rust, and the tendency to lodge.
From 2,000 to 5,000 catties per mou of such fertilizers should be plowed under
before planting. If bean and oil cakes are used the application should not be
in the seed rows since the chunks of cake might impede the growth of sprouts.
Follow-up applications of fertilizer should ordir-rily be made twice.
Before the wheat becomes green in the spring stable manure or bean cake should
be used. From 50 to 100 catties of bean cake per mou may be applied. When the
heads are being pollinated an application of quick-acting fertilizer such rs
night soil and ammonium sulphate should be made. According to the condition of
the plants from 15 to 25 catties of the latter should be used.
The masses should accumulate urine to use as a final booster fertilizer
(1,000 catties of urine are equally effective with 80 catties of bean cake). The
urine should be mixed with two or three parts of water and poured along the rows.
Rules for the amount of fertilizer to be used on each occasion should
be developed. In general wet soils require more, dry soils less fertilizer.
Different types of seed require differing amounts of fertilizer. Norms for the
proper proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be established.
In the initial application of fertilizer, 20-30 catties of bone meal and 50 tat-
ties of wood ash per mou should be added. The bone meal should be fermented
with night soil and stable manure. Follow-up applications of fertilizer should
be gauged according to the initial amount of fertilizer and the condition of
the crop. In rich soil, where the initial application of fertilizer was liberal
and the crops are vigorous, the follow-up applications of fertilizer may be lighter;
in reverse situations, more should be used. In acid soils south of the Yangtze
River more lime is needed.
4? Seed Selection and the Planting Season
High yield seed are necessary to insure abundant wheat crops. Formerly,
in seed selection attention was paid only to yield, quality, and disease resist-
ance. During the last 2 years the matter of the stiffness of the straw has be-
come important because of heavier heads. Selection whould be on a five-year
basis with all the above points in mind as well as the building up of a seed
history. The results obtained by some model high producers have been attained
by such methods.
China's seed selection program is still unstable and without a set pat-
tern. Field inspection of heads and their appraisal must be stepper up, the
percentage of cracked kernels must not exceed 3 percent, and the sprouting quality
should not be below 75 percent. Seeds should be sunned 5-8 days before sowing to
increase their viability. Seeds should be tested in roily water or brine to sepa-
rate those made light by internal insects, insect eggs, and blasted seeds. This
will insure greater uniformity of weight and more even growth. If necessary the
best seeds should be selected by hand.
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The seeding time of winter wheat should-be early enough to permit de-
velopment of leaf and root systems. However, there should be no more than three
to five leaves before winter. If the planting is too early joints may develop
and this is not desirable. Hence the proper gauging of the planting time is
very important to production, although the climate and the type of seed are also
important considerations. In some areas old traditions may be maintained.
North of Peiping sowing should be early unless spring types, such as
Pi-yu and Pi-ma, are being used. These may be planted later. Likewise sowing
should be later in fertile well-watered areas than in arid thin soils. Where
double cropping is practiced the early crops should be such as to permit
the proper winter wheat sowing season. Summer-fallow ground should be plowed
deeply in the late summer and new soil protection processes followed. In a 2-
year, 3-crop area every effort should be made to plow soon after the harvest of
earlier crops. The paddy rice land south of the Yangtze River should be drained
as soon as the rice turns yellow to permit sufficient drying for wheat sowing as
soon as the rice is off the ground.
5. Control and Timing of Water Supply
In irrigated areas the proper control of water supply can promote high
production. The best way is to ditch between the ridges and soak the soil. To
prevent the tendency to lodge the plan of irrigating copiously once before plant-
ing is sometimes practiced, thus enabling the wheat to get a quick start and to
develop a suitable root and leaf system before winter.
The second irrigation should follow the wheat's turning green in the
spring. This irrigation should be copious and timed correctly to avoid both
cold and drought. The third irrigation should come 10-15 days later depending
on weather and soil conditions and should be less copious. The fourth irriga-
tion with sufficient water to soak the soil thoroughly comes after the heads
are pollinated. This will hasten growth. When the grain is in the milk the
fifth irrigation should be made. Unless conditions are unusually dry no fur-
ther irrigation will be needed.
Irrigation when the heads are heavy will result in lodging. If condi.
tions of soil and rainfall are favorable three irrigations corresponding to
the first, second, and fourth in the above schedule may be sufficient. In sandy
soils and during especially dry weather more than five irrigations may be neces-
sary.
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