Recently, more than 10 experts from the Henan Provincial Geological Survey Institute began an ecological geochemistry survey on the shallow overburden of the Yiluo River valley of Luoyang, central China’s Henan Province. The survey is to find out the internal relationship of the plantation of peony and other distinctive agricultural products and the local soil and other natural conditions, so as to work out a basement of references for the development of the Luonan New Area in Luoyang.

 

Peony, whose plantation in Luoyang has a history of 2,000 years, boasts more than 1,000 varieties in this particular location. Now, more than 75,000 hectares of land in Luoyang has been designated as peony plantation area. 

 

Luoyang peony enjoys a worldwide reputation. Out of the 1,000 peony varieties, about 100 are peculiar to Luoyang. When these varieties are planted in other places, they either grow with difficulties, giving poor blossoms, or refuse to grow.

 

What is even more amazing is that peony transplanted from Luoyang to other places must have the soil from Luoyang to go with it. It illustrates the fact that the soil of Luoyang is an exclusive soil to certain varieties of peony. But, the secret has not yet been unveiled.

 

Last year, the Henan provincial government submitted to the China Geological Survey Bureau (CGS) of the Ministry of Land and Resources seven agricultural geological survey programs concerning the province’s seven cities. Among them, the ecological geochemistry survey on the shallow overburden of the Yiluo River valley of Luoyang was chosen as a state-supported program. This is so far the first geological survey project to be carried out in Henan.

 

In addition to the urban Luoyang City, the survey will also cover counties of Luoning, Yiyang, Xin’an, Mengjin and Yanshi, involving a total area of about 6,500 square kilometers and with a total investment of 6.5 million yuan (US$785,000). The Henan Provincial Geological Survey Institute has undertaken the project, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

 

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, August 3, 2003)