Table 1 Lists some records of topdressing in ancient Chinese agricultural books.
From: The manuring principles in ancient China from the perspective of the San Cai theory
Number | Dynasty | Record | Meaning | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Western Han (202BC-8AD) | 树高一尺, 以蚕矢粪之, 树三升。无蚕矢, 以溷中熟粪粪之亦善, 树一升 | When a sapling is one foot tall, fertilize it with three liters of silkworm droppings. If unavailable, one liter of well-rotted manure from latrines will also suffice | Book of Fan Shengzhi(氾胜之书)(Shi, 1956) |
2 | The Northern Wei (386AD-584AD) | 冻解,以铁杷耧起, 下水加熟粪 | When the ground thaws, use an iron rake or plow to loosen and prepare the soil, then irrigate the field and apply well-fermented manure | Qi Min Yao Shu(齐民要术)(Jia, 2015) |
3 | The Southern Song (1127AD-1279AD) | 七月治地, 屡加粪锄转……宜屡耘而屡粪 | In July, prepare the land by repeatedly fertilizing and hoeing. Frequent weeding and fertilization are recommended | Chen Fu’s Nong Shu(陈旉农书)(Chen, 2015) |
4 | Yuan (1271AD-1368AD) | 布叶则删耘, 宜带露撒灰, 耘, 粪二两次 | Once new leaves appear, perform weeding and apply ash early in the morning when dew is present. Repeat weeding and fertilization twice. | Nong Sang Yi Shi Cuo Yao(农桑衣食撮要)(Lu, 1985) |
5 | Ming (1368AD-1644AD) | 如草泥、猪壅垫底, 则以牛壅接之 | If grass mud or pig manure is used as the base fertilizer, cow manure can follow as top dressing | Shen Shi’s Nong Shu(沈氏农书) (Wang, 2024) |
6 | Ming (1368AD-1644AD) | 初种时必以河泥作底……立秋后交处暑,始下大肥壅, 则其力倍而穗长矣 | River mud must be used as base fertilizer during initial planting. After the Beginning of Autumn (立秋) and before the End of Heat (处暑), apply large amounts of manure, doubling its effect and lengthening the ears of grain. | Wu Xing Zhang Gu Ji(吴兴掌故集)(Xu, 1560) |
7 | Qing (1644AD-1972AD) | 地中上浮粪……地冻后再上粪可也 | Apply surface manure to the field, and additional manure can be applied after the ground freezes | Nong Yan Zhu Shi(农言著实)(Yang, 1957) |
8 | Qing (1644AD-1972AD) | 肥田者俗谓膏壅, 上农用三通 | Fertile fields are commonly referred to as rich dressing(膏壅), and premium fields require three rounds of fertilization | Pu Mao Nong Zi(浦泖农咨)(Jiang, 2002) |
