This summer, a new agricultural technology is transforming rice cultivation in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province.

At Jinquan Grain Planting Family Farm, a 50-mu (3.3-hectare) plot has piloted an integrated transplanting machine that lays fully biodegradable mulch film while planting seedlings — a first for the county.

An integrated transplanting machine lays fully biodegradable mulch film while planting seedlings at a farm in Rudong county. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

The innovation addresses two long-standing challenges: weed control and high labor costs. The film physically suppresses weed growth, eliminating herbicides or manual weeding. It also conserves water and nutrients, cutting irrigation water and fertilizer use by 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

What sets this technology apart is its environmental compatibility. Unlike conventional plastic, the biodegradable film naturally breaks down during the rice growth cycle, leaving zero residues and no white pollution in the soil.

Farm owner Zhu Jinquan sees clear financial benefits. "If the trial works, I'll roll it out across all my rice fields next year," he said. The math is simple: savings of 200 yuan ($28) per mu add up fast on a large farm.

The technology has already been tested in Fujian, Hubei, and other parts of Jiangsu. This Rudong trial, in partnership with a Shanghai-based biotech firm, aims to tailor the method for local soil and climate.