Fine water droplets slowly seep into the soil through drip irrigation lines in the fields, as rows of young corn plants stretch in the breeze. On May 30, at the corn fields of Anda Pasture, it was observed that, thanks to a newly activated drip irrigation system, corn seedlings affected by prolonged drought have firmly established their root systems, showing vigorous growth.
"The corn seedlings have taken root. Anda Pasture began sowing on April 24. Due to 35 consecutive days without effective rainfall, the drought situation was severe. After assessment by the leadership of the branch company and Anda Pasture, it was decided to adopt water-fertilizer integration technology. We switched from reel-type sprinkler irrigation to this technology, completing the installation of drip irrigation lines over 5,200 acres in just five days. The drought has now been alleviated, with a seedling emergence rate exceeding 90%," said Wang Yongkang, General Manager of the Agricultural Development Department at Anda Pasture. Initially, traditional sprinkler irrigation was used to combat the drought, but it consumed large amounts of water and had limited coverage, making it difficult to meet the needs of large-scale farmland for seedling preservation. The critical emergence period faced severe challenges.
"We had to adjust the irrigation method quickly to protect the seedlings." On May 8, the Party Committee of the Suihua Branch Company conducted an on-site assessment in the fields and immediately decided on a plan: completely discontinuing sprinkler irrigation and switching to drip irrigation across the entire area. A race against time to combat the drought and preserve seedlings was fully launched.
To expedite project implementation, leaders from both the Suihua Branch Company and Anda Pasture divided responsibilities, coordinating various support tasks such as electricity supply, materials, and personnel. They mobilized 30 sets of drip irrigation equipment and 10 technical professionals, finalizing and deploying resources and manpower on the same day. In the fields, four laying machines operated continuously. Staff and workers braved the scorching sun to install pipelines, connect irrigation lines, and debug equipment. Working together to accelerate progress, they completed the installation of drip irrigation lines over 5,200 acres of farmland in the shortest time possible. Simultaneously, 17 drought-relief wells were officially activated. To address the issue of insufficient water output from some older wells, the pasture flexibly adjusted the plan by extending irrigation durations and implementing staggered water supply schedules, ensuring every plot of farmland received adequate irrigation.
"Drip irrigation is like providing precise hydration and nutrition to the crops. Water and fertilizer are delivered directly to the root zone, saving water and improving efficiency. The seedlings grow evenly and robustly," explained Li Mingjie, Deputy Party Secretary and General Manager of Anda Pasture, squatting by the field ridge and brushing aside the topsoil. Watching the thriving corn seedlings, employee Meng Qinghui smiled with relief. The prolonged drought had kept him worried, but now, with young plants growing in abundance, his anxiety has finally eased.
As of May 30, the entire corn field has completed two rounds of drip irrigation. Field test data shows a seedling emergence rate exceeding 90%.
"From the current perspective, our goal of using drip irrigation to combat drought and preserve seedlings has been achieved. The next step is to provide water and fertilizer according to high standards, while also completing summer management tasks in line with the branch company's requirements for large-scale yield improvement. We will transform our drought-resistant and disaster mitigation measures into high-yield strategies for the autumn harvest, laying a solid foundation for high production in the fall of 2026," stated Li Mingjie.
The rapid shift from traditional sprinkler irrigation to precise drip irrigation became a key strategy in this drought-resistant seedling preservation effort. Li Mingjie noted that the entire drought response operation was characterized by quick decision-making, rapid implementation, and immediate results. This not only firmly safeguarded the baseline of food production security but also simultaneously achieved water-fertilizer integration, laying a strong foundation for subsequent high and stable corn yields. It also accumulated valuable experience for dealing with extreme drought conditions in the future.
Currently, the drought persists, but drip irrigation equipment continues to operate in the fields, and young corn plants are vigorously growing. Faced with an extreme drought lasting 45 days without rain, Anda Pasture relied on scientific planning and collective hard work, using efficient and practical measures to protect thousands of acres of fertile land, delivering an impressive performance in drought resistance and seedling preservation.