On April 30, the Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (referred to as the Oil Crops Institute) held a field observation meeting on drought-resistant cultivation techniques for short-growing period rapeseed in the rice-rapeseed rotation model in Honghu City, Hubei Province. Through expert field evaluations, new short-growing period rapeseed varieties developed independently by the Oil Crops Institute, such as "Zhongyou Early 1," "Zhongyou 207," and "Yangguang 131," along with integrated drought-resistant cultivation techniques, achieved a theoretical yield of 170 kilograms per mu in the rice-rapeseed rotation demonstration area, leading to an annual income increase of over 500 yuan per mu. Experts at the meeting unanimously agreed that the rice-rapeseed rotation model with short-growing period rapeseed and drought-resistant cultivation techniques provides strong technological support for expanding rapeseed production, ensuring supply, improving quality, increasing efficiency, and enriching farmers.
It was explained that the rice-rapeseed rotation involves planting rice twice a year, with planting in May and harvesting in mid to late October, leaving the fields idle during winter. Honghu City has a rice-rapeseed rotation area of over 300,000 mu annually, with great potential to expand rapeseed cultivation on idle winter fields. However, the lack of year-round efficient cultivation techniques has hindered rapeseed production in the area.
In response, with stable support from the Hubei Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System and major scientific and technological tasks, the Oil Crops Institute collaborated with multiple stations and advantageous units in Hubei Province to conduct technological research. By combining late-sown short-growing period rapeseed varieties with early-maturing rice, and integrating core technologies such as precision sowing, dense planting, drought resistance regulation, and spring growth promotion, the local farmers were able to harvest an additional season of rapeseed on top of the two rice harvests, achieving three high-value and efficient harvests in a year. This technological model effectively promotes the expansion of rapeseed cultivation, increases farmers' income, and provides a replicable and scalable comprehensive technological solution to fully utilize idle winter fields in China's rice-rapeseed production areas, supporting the dual production of grain and oil, and contributing to the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas.
Dr. Ma Ni, a researcher from the Oil Crops Nutrition and Cultivation Team and the chief expert of the Hubei Rapeseed Industry Technology System, introduced that the rapeseed drought-resistant cultivation techniques also play a significant role in coping with low-temperature freezing disasters. In the extreme weather conditions of multiple low-temperature freezes in Hubei Province this year, the demonstration fields applying the technology reduced the rapeseed mortality rate by over 50% compared to farmers' fields, significantly decreasing post-freeze disease occurrence and ensuring a bountiful harvest even after adverse weather conditions. This technological model has been widely promoted and applied in the three double-cropping regions of Hubei, Jiangxi, and Guangxi, with a demonstration area exceeding 5,000 mu.
