INTELLIGENT! PLANTING RICE IN THE RIVER FLOATING

Summary

In Chongqing, China, farmers use an innovative Aquaponics Technique to grow rice on the surface of water in ponds and rivers. This method combines aquaculture and hydroponics, benefiting both rice plants and fish. Rice plants thrive by absorbing nutrients from fish feces, while purifying the water, improving fish health. Originating from an agricultural student’s solution to oxygen depletion in fish ponds, this technique has proven to yield 50 kg of rice per 670 square meters. The process supports both rice and fish farmers, improving environmental sustainability and economic benefits, and will be expanded to more areas.

Takeaways

• 😀 Farmers in Chongqing, China grow rice on the surface of water using an unusual floating method.
• 😀 The technique used is known as the Aquaponics Technique, which combines aquaculture and hydroponics in a symbiotic environment.
• 😀 This method helps to purify the water, benefiting both the rice plants and the fish living in the water.
• 😀 The Aquaponics Technique was developed by Li Meng, an agricultural student, after observing fish suffocating in a mini-kola due to lack of oxygen.
• 😀 Floating rice cultivation involves planting rice on plastic plates that float on the surface of ponds or rivers.
• 😀 Lish fish are used in the system as they produce waste that serves as nutrients for the rice plants.
• 😀 Rice cultivation using this technique results in the production of 50 kilograms of rice per 670 square meters.
• 😀 The Aquaponics Technique creates a mutualistic relationship between rice plants and fish, ensuring a healthy environment for both.
• 😀 This farming method has shown to increase economic benefits for both rice farmers and fish breeders.
• 😀 The Aquaponics Technique will be expanded to more areas to benefit additional fish farmers.

Q & A

What unique method do farmers in Chongqing, China use to grow rice?

Farmers in Chongqing use a method where rice is grown on the surface of water, either in ponds or along riverbanks, rather than in traditional fields.

How does the aquaponics technique work for growing rice in Chongqing?

The aquaponics technique combines aquaculture and hydroponics, creating a symbiotic environment where rice plants float on water, purifying the water for fish while receiving nutrients from fish waste.

What is the purpose of growing rice on water surfaces using this technique?

The purpose is to improve water quality for fish and produce rice simultaneously. The rice helps purify the water, which benefits fish health in the process.

What problem did Li Meng, the agricultural student, aim to solve with this technique?

Li Meng aimed to solve the problem of fish suffocating due to lack of oxygen in the mini-kola by using rice plants to improve water quality and provide oxygen to the fish.

How does the fish contribute to the rice growing process in this method?

Fish, particularly lish fish, produce a significant amount of feces, which provides essential nutrients that support the growth of the rice plants.

What is the role of plastic plates in this farming technique?

Plastic plates are used as the planting medium for rice, allowing the plants to float on the surface of the water while receiving nutrients from the fish waste.

How much rice can be harvested using this method in Chongqing?

This technique allows farmers to harvest 50 kilograms of rice per 670 square meters.

What are the economic benefits of this aquaponics method?

The method increases comprehensive economic benefits by allowing farmers and fish breeders to maintain a healthy environment for both rice and fish, boosting productivity and sustainability.

Which fish species is used in this method, and why?

Lish fish are used because they produce a large amount of feces, which turns into the nutrients needed for the rice plants to thrive.

What are the future plans for this aquaponics farming method in Chongqing?

The technique will be piloted in more areas, aiming to benefit more fish farmers by improving both rice production and water quality for aquaculture.