Kaiyang seedling breeding center prepares vegetable seedlings for transplantation

The Nanmudu seedling breeding center. [Photo/WeChat account of Zhizhi Guiyang]

High-quality seedlings are essential for a successful harvest and a critical part of agricultural production. The Seedling Breeding Center of Guiyang Agricultural Investment Group in Nanmudu town, Kaiyang county, Guiyang, is one of the most advanced seedling cultivation bases in Guizhou province. It prepares vegetable seedlings in greenhouses for transplantation using an intelligent "big data + agriculture" breeding system.

"If the seedlings are too old, the survival rate after grafting will be very low. We must complete the grafting at the optimal time. To achieve this, we bring in professional grafters from across the country to assist," explained Xie Guanfu, head of the breeding center.

To improve the survival rate of grafted seedlings, the center has increased the number of grafters and adopted an intelligent logistics seedbed cultivation system. This system adjusts greenhouse temperature, humidity, and lighting according to the seedlings' growth stages while automating key processes such as sowing, germination, grafting, transportation, and irrigation.

"The equipment ensures the greenhouse temperature is slightly higher than the outside, and with the logistics system, the seedling cycle is shortened," Xie added. Since January, the greenhouses have produced 3.8 million grafted seedlings and over 3 million direct-seeded seedlings, totaling over 6 million.

The center cultivates over 10 specialty vegetable varieties, including peppers, tomatoes, cabbages, broccoli, and eggplants, in collaboration with domestic and international research institutes and seed companies.

Since the beginning of the year, the center has received orders from Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and other regions. In addition to seedling cultivation, the center provides technical training and job stability. Local villagers who work at the center earn an income while learning skills in seedling cultivation and vegetable farming.