My gaze moved downwards towards the bushes along the shore of Emerald Lake.
As the light waves swept over, the area covered by withered yellow leaves turned a dark reddish-brown.
[Lakeside humus soil: contains 40% decomposed organic matter.]
pH value: 6.2 (slightly acidic).
[Fungal community activity: Moderate.]
[Judgment: Rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements, with excellent water retention, suitable as a core medium for the nutrient layer.]
Su Wei crouched down and used his gloved hands to brush away the fallen leaves and broken branches.
The soft, dark brown soil beneath was exposed.
The shovel tip plunged into the soil, and with a gentle pry, it was ready to be used.
The soil has a fine texture and contains some plant roots that are not yet fully decomposed.
He put it into a spare black plastic bag.
We don't have enough materials.
Su Wei picked up the bucket and bag and walked towards the edge of the woods deeper inside.
The snow boots made a soft cracking sound as they stepped on the snow-covered pine needles.
He stopped beneath the trunk of a giant North America cedar tree.
[Forest understory coniferous soil: mainly composed of cedar leaf litter and decaying wood chips.]
pH value: 4.8 (slightly acidic).
[Porosity: 35%]
[Judgment: Excellent air permeability, contains natural antibacterial ingredients to prevent root rot.]
This is precisely the material indispensable for preparing the planting layer.
Su Wei quickly dug up half a bag of coniferous soil.
Just as he was about to get up, the analytical light wave swept across a dead cedar log lying on its side.
The bark on the shady side of the log was covered with a thick layer of green.
[Polar star moss (live)]
[Moisture content: 85%. Vital activity: High.]
[Characteristics: Cold-resistant, shade-loving. Its base has a network of microscopic ectomycorrhizal fungi.]
The leaves of this moss are arranged in tiny star-shaped patterns and are a deep emerald green.
In the gray and white polar environment, this touch of green is visually striking.
Su Wei put down the shovel and pulled out the Alaska Harpoon Survival Knife from the outside of his thigh.
The carbon steel blade sliced horizontally into the cracks in the dead bark along the edge of the moss.
The wrist moved smoothly forward, cutting through the woody fibers attached to the bottom.
A large piece of star moss, about the size of an adult's palm, was completely peeled off.
The black soil and symbiotic mycelium at the bottom were completely preserved on top.
All matrix materials have been collected.
Su Wei returned to the cabin carrying heavy buckets and bags.
The temperature inside the wooden house gradually rose.
He spread a layer of waterproof plastic sheeting on the workbench.
The various materials were neatly arranged in categories to one side.
A large 20-liter glass storage jar stands right in the center.
[ Substrate Analysis ] remains enabled, providing real-time monitoring of the mixing ratio data.
The first step is to construct a drainage layer.
This is also the foundation for the entire miniature ecosystem to avoid becoming rotten and decaying.
Su Wei grabbed two handfuls of coarse sand and gravel he had dug from the Emerald Lake and threw them into the bottom of the glass jar.
The sand and gravel collided with each other, making a crisp sound.
He used an extended wooden stick to level the sand and gravel at the bottom.
The thickness is maintained at around five centimeters.
[Current drainage layer porosity: 55%. Meets standards.]
The second step is the isolation layer.
If you pour soil directly onto gravel, the soil will seep into the cracks when you water it.
This will clog the drainage space at the bottom.
He tore off some withered, dead moss fibers from the edge of the polar moss he had just collected.
These natural cellulose fibers intertwine to form a dense, permeable network.
Spread it evenly on top of the sand and gravel, and compact it.
The third step is the core water absorption and planting layer.
Su Wei poured the humus from the lake shore and the coniferous soil from under the forest into a basin.
Insert both hands into the soil and repeatedly stir and knead it.
Break up the clumps of soil and remove any oversized stones and unrotted hardwood branches.
He recalled the proportions he had reviewed the previous night.
While stirring, a prompt pops up on the system panel.
[Current mixed matrix pH: 5.6.]
[Porosity: 38%]
[Organic matter content: Moderate.]
[Judgment: Perfect substrate for the survival of cold-climate mosses]
Allocation complete.
He used a plastic shovel to pour the mixed soil little by little into the glass jar.
Soil covers the sphagnum moss barrier layer.
To add visual depth, he did not level the soil.
Instead, they deliberately piled up at the back to form a miniature sloping surface.
The front is lower than the back; this is a classic spatial structure in landscaping.
The soil thickness is between ten and fifteen centimeters.
[Matrix layer construction complete. 10% increase in stress resistance is now effective.]
The final step is implantation into a living organ.
Su Wei picked up the palm-sized piece of polar star moss.
He used the tip of his knife to cut it into three irregular pieces.
Holding the largest piece in both hands, I carefully inserted it into the glass jar.
Place the moss at the highest point of the soil slope.
Gently press the edges of the moss with your fingers to ensure that the mycelium at the base adheres closely to the mixed substrate.
Next, add two more small pieces of moss to the middle section and bottom edge of the slope.
The once monotonous soil was suddenly covered with lush green vitality.
Dark green and light green intermingled, complementing the brown soil.
A miniature polar forest is emerging.
That's not enough.
Without the water cycle, the ecosystem is dead.
Su Wei took a hand-operated air-pressure spray bottle filled with purified water.
Insert the nozzle into the mouth of the glass jar.
Press down on the lever with your thumb.
Tsk
Fine mist of water sprayed from the nozzle, evenly sprinkling onto the moss leaves and exposed soil.
The dry leaves of the star moss quickly unfurl upon contact with water mist.
Water droplets slid down the emerald green veins of the leaves and seeped into the soil below.