＂Su Yan＂ puts flowers under the lotus root when stepping on the lake： a rural revitalization map of a private research institute in Huantai
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In Huantai County, Zibo City, the lotus root under the flower in Mata Lake is truly "fresh". According to Song Peizhong, a 72-year-old non-genetic inheritor of Zibo City, the "fresh" lotus root under the flower can’t be eaten by the emperor. This is not nonsense. After picking fresh lotus roots in Mata Lake, you must eat them within one hour.
At the end of May, 2021, the reporter came to Qifeng Town, Huantai County, and there was a special research institute in Matahu Wetland, a national AAA scenic spot. This research institute was the first private institution specializing in lotus root in Shandong Province-Huantai County Huazheng Lotus Root Industry Research Institute. Song Peizhong, a villager in Huagou Village, has become a consultant specially hired by the Institute for his understanding of Mata Lake.
Suyan Mata Lake
In another month, the lotus root under the flower in Mata Lake will be on the market.
On May 26th, in Huantai Huazheng Lotus Root Industry Research Institute, lotus root has just started planting, and several ponds are being cleaned up. Song Shuxiao, a 66-year-old villager in Huagou Village, is cleaning reeds and weeds in the lotus pond. As the carrier of the local intangible cultural heritage "reed weaving" in Huantai, if reed is allowed to grow, it will be no less than a disaster for the lotus root industry.
"Reed grows in the same way as lotus root, but its roots are deeper and taller than lotus root. Let’s seize the nutrition of lotus root and compete for the sunshine of lotus root, which will affect the growth of lotus root. " Song Shuxiao’s cleaning work is very heavy. He must clean the reeds and weeds from the pond as much as possible, so as not to affect the most critical growth period of lotus root in the next month.
"In another month, the lotus will bloom, which is the most beautiful season in Mata Lake. At that time, the wind blows the lotus leaves and frogs burst. " Yang Jinfeng, deputy director of Huantai Huazheng Lotus Root Industry Research Institute, described a moonlight scene of the lotus pond to the reporter.
At this time, Mata Lake is a "plain face". The newly planted lotus root can’t cover the clear water surface. In the morning sunshine, the lanterns that drive water birds swing in the wind.
According to reports, most of the white lotus root varieties planted in Mata Lake are Erian No.4 and Erian No.5. As a geographical symbol of national agricultural products, Matahu White Lotus Root is also the third batch of well-known regional public brands of agricultural products in Zibo. Despite this, white lotus root in Matahu has no real variety of its own. One of the important tasks of Huantai Huazheng Lotus Root Industry Research Institute is to develop its own white lotus root seedlings for Mata Lake.
Now, the institute has found the female parent of the local lotus root in Mata Lake. Next, they will develop a lotus root variety similar to Qilian No.1 or Ma Lian No.1 that belongs to Mata Lake.
The ambition of a private research institute
As the first private research institution engaged in the research of lotus root industry in Shandong Province, Huantai Huazheng Industry Research Institute has greater ambitions.
It is understood that within three years, the founders of the institute have investigated the lotus root industrial development clusters in many places, such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hubei, Anhui, Henan, Hebei, Tianjin and other places, and finally formed the basic road map of Huazheng’s lotus root industrial supply chain and new scientific and technological innovation and development.
"The Institute finally chose Mata Lake as the base of the Institute. The most important point is the rich climate and environmental resources of Mata Lake." Song Peizhong told reporters that the institute will gradually establish cooperative relations with excellent overseas lotus root industry development clusters, promote technical cooperation and exchanges between domestic and foreign lotus root industries, and help the international development of lotus root industry in Huantai County.
For a time, the cultivation of white lotus root in Mata Lake was unscientific, such as the film mulching technology at the bottom of the pond, which isolated the lotus root from the land. At present, one of the research topics is about soil remediation.
It is understood that the pond used in the research institute uses concrete, which greatly increases the planting cost, but ensures the quality of agricultural products.
"According to our technicians, it is necessary to plant’ white and rich beauty’. Lotus roots should not only be white and beautiful, but also help farmers get rich." Yang Jinfeng said that the institute is to study the problems that local lotus root growers can’t solve, and explore a road to rural revitalization with the characteristics of Mata Lake through industrial revitalization.
The Institute invited Song Peizhong, who not only valued his understanding of lotus root in Mata Lake, but also valued him as the inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of reed weaving technology, hoping to promote the unique lake culture of Mata Lake and drive the surrounding people to get rich through a series of cultural and creative products.
Digital transformation of lotus root production
Another reason why Huantai Huazheng Lotus Root Research Institute chose Mata Lake is the important local human resources. Related, Qi Huangong once called the governors of six countries to join forces in the city of Mata Lake, and the troops of six countries abruptly turned Tanye Plain into a magnificent lake, which is also the origin of Mata Lake. Lotus root in Mata Lake has always been one of the important industries in Huantai County, and now this industry, like other industries, is facing digital upgrading.
The reporter learned that the existing lotus root production methods have hindered the development of lotus root industry, such as inefficient manual lotus root picking and high labor costs.
At present, many lotus root growers adopt the mechanized harvesting method of high-pressure water pump, which improves the efficiency a lot and reduces the cost, but such mechanized harvesting also has some shortcomings. Because, when the high-pressure water pump is harvesting the lotus root, the sand and gravel aroused by the strong water flow will form scars on the surface of the lotus root, which will seriously affect the lotus root sales and reduce the price.
At present, the research institute is cooperating with some colleges and universities to develop lotus root picking robots, which can reduce production costs and improve production efficiency and product quality through digital methods.
Song Peizhong told reporters that lotus roots can be harvested twice a year, once in late June and once in late autumn and early winter. For example, the upcoming picking of lotus roots under flowers should not only harvest high-quality agricultural products for the market, but also plan for the harvest in late autumn.
This characteristic of lotus root puts forward higher requirements for artificial intelligence harvesting.
"The lotus root under the flower is the freshest. After it is picked, it is washed with water, wrapped with lotus leaves, smashed and eaten directly. This is a taste that the emperor can’t eat." Perhaps in the near future, with the development of digital agriculture, the "freshness" of Mata Lake that Song Peizhong has been thinking about will be presented to consumers completely, so that consumers all over the country can taste this special taste without coming to Mata Lake.
(Public Daily client reporter Ma Jingyang reports from Li Bo)
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