Regarding the increase in yield of a certain crop, it’s a very interesting topic.
Take potatoes as an example. Before being brought by colonizers from the New Continent to the Old World, the yield per mu of potatoes in the hands of indigenous people of the New Continent was about 80-100 jin, which is not a particularly high number.
However, in the Old World, due to the development of agricultural technology and the advances in biology, through methods such as breeding good varieties and scientific planting, the yield per mu of potatoes increased rapidly.
Take wheat as another example. From the twelfth century to the eighteenth century in the original world, the yield of wheat had little increase over hundreds of years.
But between 1770 and 1810, in just a few decades, the yield per mu of European wheat doubled.
During the same period, potato yield was six times that of wheat, and the water and heat required for planting potatoes were only half of those for wheat. Potatoes could mature in just four months, and with diligence, two crops could be grown in one year.
It’s imaginable how exaggerated the potato yield was during this period.
In fact, in the original world’s Europe, it was precisely due to the astonishing yield of potatoes that Europe’s population experienced rapid growth after the Industrial Revolution.
In this world, the role of potatoes is also unduly significant, contributing greatly to the rapid expansion of the Empire’s population.
Thus, in the Northern Territory, when Perfikot considered solving food problems, potatoes became her primary choice.
After all, potatoes are suitable for both culinary and staple purposes. As a staple food, they are rich in nutrients, with a soft and glutinous texture, making them a very good food for satiety.
However, potatoes also contain many issues. If potatoes are truly regarded as the main grain, one must consider the possibility of events similar to the Great Irish Famine in the original world occurring.
But these issues can be easily resolved, because with alchemy and magic present in this world, it’s relatively easy to improve the potato varieties.
"Consider this as the first research task I assign to the Northern Territory branch of the Royal Academy of Sciences. Develop a new potato variety within three years with a yield that can reach five hundred kilograms per mu." Perfikot handed down a research task to the biologists and agricultural scientists before her: "I’ve done some research, and the current yield of potatoes planted locally in the Empire is about two hundred kilograms per mu, so you need to double that yield."
At this point, seeing the troubled expressions on the faces of these scientists, Perfikot did not show leniency.
She simply said to them in a calm tone, "This may indeed be difficult, but considering some key factors that cannot be disclosed to you yet, this order must be completed.
So I don’t care what methods you use or what means you employ; I just want the future yield per mu of potatoes in the Northern Territory to meet my requirement of five hundred kilograms.
This concerns the future and the life and death of the Empire. I hope you can give this sufficient importance and understanding."
For those engaged in scientific research, they most fear and dislike these kinds of situations where a target is set for scientific research.
After all, research is full of uncertainties, and no one can guarantee that the outcome will meet the expected goals.
In this situation, setting a specific target can indeed seem unrealistic to some extent.
But for Perfikot, she doesn’t consider how these scientists feel; she’s only concerned about whether she can achieve the result she desires.
"Count, in response to your requirement, we can only say we will do our best," a scientist explained to Perfikot with a heavy heart, hoping she would retract her command: "After all, scientific research is filled with unknown uncertainties, and we can’t promise to double the yield of potatoes in two years.
That’s not scientific research; it’s the miracle of magical creation.
So, we hope you can give us more time or more leeway, we..."
"Was I not clear enough? For the future and survival of the Empire, I require you to increase the yield per mu of potatoes to at least five hundred kilograms within two years." Perfikot did not show a good face to that scientist, she was already starting to show some anger: "This is an order, not a negotiation! If you can’t do it, then I’ll find a group that can! If you can’t do it, the Empire has scientists who can do this job!"
Upon hearing this, the faces of the scientists turned ugly.
But they clearly knew that Perfikot was not someone they could afford to offend. What she said was basically how things would be.
In this land of the Northern Territory, Perfikot’s orders were effective.
Even in the Empire itself, Perfikot’s orders were usually also effective, and no major department in the Empire would dare offend this Count of the Northern Territory. Google seaʀᴄh NoveIꜰire.net
Thus, when Perfikot displayed a relentless attitude and a stance of "if you don’t do it, someone else will," these scientists quickly yielded.
They began to whisper about how to improve the yield so that the yield per mu of potatoes could increase by more than double.
Such planting would inevitably involve ravaging the soil itself, and after a few times, the originally fertile soil would naturally turn to sand, and severely could even destroy the whole world.
Therefore, the use of chemical fertilizers is almost unavoidable.
And to increase the yield of potatoes per mu, Perfikot did not restrict the methods these scientists could use.
"By the way, let me remind you, Northern Territory’s winters are very cold, so these potatoes will be planted indoors in greenhouses, thus you are allowed to use chemical fertilizers and modern agricultural techniques." Perfikot’s attitude was serious and stern: "I only want a yield per mu of five hundred kilograms of potatoes. As for everything else, it’s unrelated to me, no matter what technology or building plans you use, I’m okay with it.
Remember, I only want the yield per mu of potatoes at five hundred kilograms! If you can’t achieve it, I’ll find a group that can."
While saying these things, Perfikot also timely released her psychological pressure, leaving these scientists with a very deep impression.
Undoubtedly, the scientists were scared, but they also understood Perfikot’s determination from her words.
Evidently, facing the notorious Perfikot, none of them dared to slack off, and they all promised they would surely complete the task.
Without a doubt, the scientists who had just been saying they would only do their best were essentially no different from those who were now guaranteeing they could do anything.