Autumn grain harvest is in full swing across the country. Corn is the flagship crop of the autumn grain in the Guanzhong Plain. Recently, a reporter from the national broadcaster visited Huashan Farm in Weinan, Shaanxi, and discovered that the planting, management, and harvesting of this "iron-clad crop" are undergoing "three transformations."

The first transformation is in planting patterns: leaving a "ventilation alley" for corn. These days, over 10 million mu of corn in the Guanzhong Plain are entering large-scale harvest season. At Huashan Farm in Weinan, Shaanxi, the corn harvest across more than 100,000 mu in the Huayin and Dali sections has been good. A reporter from the national broadcaster noted: the entire farm's planting area exceeds 50,000 mu. From this high vantage point, the corn stands tall and neat—doesn't it look like a formation awaiting a harvest inspection? And the standard for this inspection was set back in the summer when planting took place. The first transformation is in the planting pattern. Corn planting in the Guanzhong Plain traditionally emphasizes straight lines and even spacing, with row spacing typically at 55 centimeters. But this year, Huashan Farm broke this "old rule." China Rongtong Agricultural Development Group Deputy Director of Agricultural Production Management Department, Pang Shuying, said: "The row spacing of our corn at Huashan Farm has a wide row distance of 70 centimeters and a narrow row distance of 40 centimeters. This wide-narrow row planting pattern ensures plant density and basic yield in the narrow rows. The wide rows provide a ventilation corridor for airflow and light penetration—essentially leaving a series of ventilation alleys in the field." Ventilation is only the first step. The narrow rows concentrate plant density, while the wide rows "open up" the middle and lower leaves to light. Wind alone is not enough—every leaf must do its job. China Rongtong Agricultural Development Group Agronomist in the Agricultural Production Management Department, Xu Zijian, said: "The wide rows of corn are not just ventilation alleys; they are also light-harvesting alleys. Wind can pass through the wide rows, and light can directly reach the lower leaves of the corn. The better the photosynthesis, the more nutrients the corn releases. During the grain-filling stage, the kernels will be fuller. During the flowering stage, the bald tip phenomenon will also be reduced. In short, wide rows transmit light, narrow rows yield high." This "one wide, one narrow" is not randomly arranged. Wide rows at 70 centimeters and narrow rows at 40 centimeters are the "standard formation" recommended in the national technical guidance for large-scale corn yield improvement. Agricultural technology departments across regions are consistent: equal row spacing is generally 60 centimeters, while wide-narrow row spacing is "wide rows 70 to 80 centimeters, narrow rows 40 to 50 centimeters," with row spacing deviation controlled within 5 centimeters. China Rongtong Agricultural Development Group Huashan Farm head Xu Wei said: "Compared to equal row spacing planting, wide-narrow row planting generally increases yield by about 10%, and each mu can produce about 150 jin more grain."

The second transformation is in water and fertilizer management: from "watering by watching the sky" to "feeding by the roots." Once row spacing is changed, there is wind and light—but crops need more than just "breathing" and "sunbathing"; they also need to "drink and eat." The biggest fear for Guanzhong corn is the "neck-strangling drought." In the past, watering depended on the weather, and fertilizing relied on experience. This year, Huashan Farm combined water and fertilizer into one and moved it into a control room. The new change at the field edge begins with this integrated water and fertilizer control room. The key lies in this "integration"—how do water and fertilizer "hold hands" and quickly reach the field, delivering water and fertilizer precisely to the corn roots? Entering the control room door, the reporter first saw three yellow tanks. China Rongtong Agricultural Development Group Production Management Department Huashan Farm technician Jin Shun said: "The first step is to fully blend water and fertilizer. Fertilizer should be applied according to the crop's different growth stages and needs. According to its ratio, it is added to the yellow tanks for thorough mixing." The reporter saw precise scale markings here—three ingredient tanks accurately proportion and thoroughly mix water and fertilizer according to the corn's fertilizer needs at different growth stages. After integrating into one, it enters the second stage: reaching the field directly through three pipelines. China Rongtong Agricultural Development Group Production Management Department Huashan Farm technician Jin Shun said: "Three dedicated nutrient channels can deliver nutrients to the crop's soil in as fast as 10 seconds." Behind "feeding by the roots" is a whole set of calculations. Drip irrigation delivers water and fertilizer directly to the roots, saving 30% to 50% water compared to flood irrigation, and fertilizer utilization efficiency is also improved. The ground is not flooded, the field is not waterlogged, root zone moisture is stable, and on hot days it can also "cool" the microclimate—this is precisely the move to prevent "neck-strangling drought."

The third transformation is in mechanical harvesting loss reduction: "BeiDou integration, people rest but machines don't stop." Good planting and careful management don't mean the grain is in hand—the final kilometer depends on harvest. This year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for National Agricultural Mechanization Development," proposing to strive to keep the average mechanical corn harvest loss rate stably within 2.1%. "Reducing loss is increasing production." This third transformation is in mechanical harvest loss reduction. The reporter followed the farm's harvesting team to different operation areas and heard the phrase "agricultural machinery rushing to harvest" the most. From rushing progress to ensuring harvest, the change behind it is the rapid upgrading of agricultural machinery. Over 100,000 mu of corn, a 15-day operation period—here, the "white plus black" uninterrupted harvesting mode has begun. The reporter followed the machines into the field at night; the autumn harvest here is "non-stop." In the darkness, as soon as the harvester passed, a hydraulic reversible plow followed closely behind. After harvesting, the land was immediately prepared, and straw was returned to the field simultaneously. Harvesting and planting are almost seamlessly connected here. Under the night sky, agricultural machinery operates along routes set by BeiDou navigation. The harvester formation enters through dedicated channels—harvest one block, deep-plow one block, prepare one block, then transport grain out of the field along fixed routes. From setting row spacing in summer planting and adjusting water and fertilizer in dog days to BeiDou-guided night harvesting, behind the corn's "three transformations" is the full-chain improvement and refined management of this season's autumn grain in the Guanzhong Plain. What is harvested is corn, what is raced against is the farming season, and what is safeguarded is the annual "grain account." In half a month, Huashan Farm finished harvesting over 100,000 mu of corn and simultaneously started the autumn-winter planting mode—deep plowing and land preparation, straw return to the field, and wheat sowing at suitable soil moisture—preparing for next year's summer grain.