Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - The 24 Solar Terms - Rainwater-saving countryside

Rainwater-saving countryside

The vernal equinox is one of the 24 solar terms, which falls on March 20th or 2 1 day every year. This solar term is quite special, between beginning of spring and Long Summer, and this solar term distributes the time of day and night on average, 24 hours, half day and half night. This solar term is only for the northern hemisphere, not for the southern hemisphere. As the saying goes in our countryside, "There is rain in the vernal equinox and rice in the urn", which is catchy and easy to understand. There is a lot of rain in the solar terms of the vernal equinox, which can promote the harvest of crops, or it is beneficial to spring ploughing and sowing, so that the people can get a bumper harvest, and the crops can be covered in Man Cang. As the old saying goes, "Wheat starts at the vernal equinox, and every moment is worth a thousand dollars". It is a good explanation that wheat starts jointing at the vernal equinox and enters the period of vigorous vegetative growth. If it rains at the vernal equinox, it is very beneficial to crop growth. There is a saying that it is good to rain at the vernal equinox. We have known since childhood that "spring rain is as expensive as oil", which is the seasonal climate law in our northern hemisphere. In the spring equinox and solar terms, the temperature rises, and some crops enter the jointing and flower bud differentiation stage. It needs rain at this time, so does spring ploughing and sowing. This time is not the rainy season in China, and it usually rains less. Therefore, people are looking forward to more rain at the vernal equinox, whether it is planting crops or sowing in spring, it will benefit.

Another example is the old saying: "When wheat starts at the vernal equinox, manure should follow." Old people in the village often say, "Farming without manure is just scaring people."

These two sentences fully show that after the vernal equinox and solar terms, winter wheat, as the main grain in northern China, needs the nourishment of water and fertilizer when it enters a prosperous period. In spring, it is usually dry. Even if the soil is too dry, even if it is fertile, the roots of crops have no physiological vitality due to drought and cannot be effectively absorbed and utilized. Thus, during the vernal equinox and solar terms, water is important for wheat growth. Of course, spring ploughing and sowing are inseparable from spring rain, and it is better to rain.

But now we have irrigation in local waters. As long as hardworking people strengthen field management and water topdressing, they can get a good harvest and warehouse.