In the past, road problems in agricultural production were often ignored. Once encountering bad weather or large agricultural machinery operations, the land was muddy and the roads were potholes, which not only delayed the farming time, but also may cause damage to agricultural machinery. Today, ground protection mats, as an innovative application of temporary agricultural roads, are quietly changing this situation, bringing many conveniences to agricultural production and becoming a powerful assistant for agricultural development.
- Helping agricultural machinery to operate efficiently
In the process of agricultural modernization, large agricultural machinery has become the key to improving production efficiency. Seeders, harvesters, tractors and other equipment are large in size and heavy in weight, and have high requirements for driving roads. When ground protection mats are not laid, soft land or muddy field paths after rain often make agricultural machinery stuck in them. During the harvest season, a large grower had a field that became muddy after a rain, and the harvester could not enter the field to operate. Waiting for the land to dry takes a lot of time, causing some crops to miss the best harvest period and causing considerable losses. After using the ground protection mat, the situation has improved greatly. During the sowing season, the sowing machine can quickly enter the field along the laid protection mat and sow accurately; during the harvest, the harvester can also be unimpeded, greatly shortening the operation time and ensuring that the crops are returned to the warehouse in time.
- Protect the soil structure of farmland
Frequent agricultural machinery driving and personnel trampling can easily damage the soil structure of farmland. After the soil is compacted, the air permeability and water retention become worse, affecting the growth and development of the root system of crops. The ground protection mat is like a protective barrier, which disperses the pressure of agricultural machinery and personnel on the soil. Taking the vegetable planting base as an example, in the past, vehicles transporting vegetables drove directly on the field roads, causing the surrounding soil to compact, affecting the growth of vegetables, and reducing the yield and quality. Since the laying of the ground protection mat, vehicles have driven on it, reducing the compaction of the soil, and the soil still maintains a good loose state. The roots of vegetables can better absorb nutrients and water, and the yield and quality of vegetables have been significantly improved.
- Dealing with complex weather conditions
Agricultural production “depends on the weather”, and weather changes have a huge impact on agricultural activities. In the rainy season, rain soaking turns farmland into mud and makes roads difficult to pass; in winter, snow and ice will also hinder the travel of agricultural machinery and transport vehicles. Ground protection mats can play a role in various complex weather conditions. In the rainy season, it can isolate mud and water, prevent vehicles from getting stuck, and ensure the timely delivery of agricultural materials and agricultural products after picking; in winter, the non-slip surface of the protection mat allows vehicles to drive safely on snowy and icy roads, ensuring that agricultural production is not too disturbed by bad weather. In an apple plantation in the north, after heavy snow in winter, the orchard roads were covered with snow and vehicles were difficult to pass. After laying the ground protection mat, the transport vehicles successfully transported the apples to the market, avoiding the situation where apples were piled up and rotted due to poor roads.
- Reduce agricultural production costs
In the long run, the use of ground protection mats can effectively reduce agricultural production costs. On the one hand, it reduces the loss of agricultural machinery. Driving on bumpy and muddy roads, the tires, chassis and other parts of agricultural machinery are easily damaged, and the maintenance cost is high. The flat road surface provided by the ground protection mat reduces the wear and tear of agricultural machinery and extends the service life of agricultural machinery. On the other hand, it avoids the loss of crops and the loss of delayed farming time caused by poor roads. For example, in rice-growing areas, if irrigation or harvesting cannot be carried out in time due to road problems, it may lead to reduced rice production or even no harvest. After using the ground protection mat, the smooth progress of agricultural activities is guaranteed, and the production cost is indirectly reduced.
The application of ground protection mats as temporary roads in the agricultural field solves many problems such as agricultural machinery operations, soil protection, weather response and cost control, and paves a “shortcut” for agricultural harvests. It is worth promoting and applying in rural areas to help the modernization of agriculture.
