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The autumn breeze is gentle, the rice waves are rolling, and the rice ears sway.

On the morning of September 12th, He Zhongjun, who lives in Shiwang Village, Shizhong Town, Jianyang City, arrived early at the demonstration field of rice mulching water-saving and fertilizer saving comprehensive high-yield technology (hereinafter referred to as "mulching technology"), just waiting for the harvester to start harvesting and welcome the harvest joy that belongs solely to the farmers.

Harvesting of mulching rice demonstration field in Shiwang Village, Shizhong Town, Jianyang City

It is reported that Shiwang Village has developed the village collective economy by transferring the land of farmers without labor or planting intentions. In 2024, more than 200 acres of rice fields will be transferred for mulching rice planting. As a skilled farmer, He Zhongjun has been hired by the village to manage these rice fields.

The mulching technology has a significant effect on controlling rice field snails.

"Let's have a look at the harvest scene that has withstood various tests." He Zhongjun excitedly looked towards the paddy field and told the reporter that thanks to the rice film covering technology provided by researcher Lv Shihua, an expert from the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, it has overcome the adverse climate impact this year, and more surprisingly, it has also effectively controlled the harm of snails, ensuring a Dafengshou (Salad of assorted fresh vegetables) of more than 200 mu of rice this year.

Due to climate reasons, the growth of apple snails in Shizhong Town has been particularly vigorous this year, posing a great threat to rice. Some paddy fields have been directly gnawed bare by apple snails. However, He Zhongjun found through comparing paddy fields in neighboring villages that have not been covered with plastic film or in his own village that have low quality plastic film, that paddy fields with high quality plastic film are less affected or almost unaffected by the apple snail.

Photo provided by interviewee for mulching in rice fields

What is the reason? On the one hand, the reason is that plastic film covering blocks the transfer of apple snails within and between rice fields; on the other hand, due to the warming effect of plastic film covering, apple snails are directly trapped in the film. "Lv Shihua, as a Chengdu Science and Technology Commissioner, has been providing technical services to Shiwang Village for the past three years since 2022. He has observed that plastic film covering can effectively control the harm of apple snails, and this year, the effect is particularly significant due to heavy rainfall in the early stage.