To promote the use of chemical fertilizer, the state had come up with quite a few new farming proverbs.
The old saying went, "A crop is like a flower; fertilizer makes it flourish."
Now it was, "If you want good crops, chemical fertilizer is a must."
But farmers at the time generally had little education and relied heavily on experience. Although Northern Xinjiang was different from inland China, and farmers here were gradually accepting the benefits of scientific farming, they were still hesitant and feeling their way when it came to using chemical fertilizer.
After all, different crops needed different types of fertilizer, and those also had to be matched to the soil's acidity or alkalinity.
To solve this problem, the authorities gradually established an Agricultural Science and Technology Extension School in every township. Children who finished junior high but failed to get into senior high could study there for a year.
The courses taught scientific farming and the proper use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and so on.
In his previous life, Li Juan had failed to get into senior high, a secondary specialized school, or Teachers' College, and had ended up attending the Agricultural Technical Extension School.
To be honest, though, what the Agricultural Technical Extension School taught was not particularly advanced. Later, as scientific knowledge became widespread, the school closed.
It felt like its mission had been accomplished.
Hearing Li Long insist that they had to use chemical fertilizer, Xu Chengjun looked thoughtful. Tao Daqiang nodded and said:
"I think it'll work. Honestly, my family used more chemical fertilizer this year than last year, and I reckon we harvested more grain, especially wheat."
At the time, land that yielded two hundred kilograms of wheat per mu was considered very good. Farmyard manure could no longer increase yields by