CAS unveils integrated agricultural strategy for Northeast China's black soil farmlands

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has detailed its 'Black Soil Granary' program, which began in 2021 to support agricultural development in Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning. The program focuses on preserving the black soil, which produces about a quarter of China's total grain output. In Heilongjiang, a 'space-air-ground' intelligent monitoring system is operational, supporting modern agricultural machinery. Meanwhile, in Jilin, researchers developed a crop rotation model involving soybeans, sorghum, wheat, and rapeseed to reduce chemical use and increase farmer incomes.

The initiative demonstrates a comprehensive strategy to combat soil degradation while ensuring food security. The successful integration of high-tech monitoring and precision farming practices is being deployed across the three provinces. This work provides a model for sustainable agriculture in regions reliant on black soil.