175 Produce Ourselves (1/2)

Chapter 175: Produce Ourselves

Translator: _Min_Editor: Rundi

”Growing Carm Trees?” Sun Jiao thought for a second before a troubled look appeared on her face.

”Is there a problem? We could probably buy the sapling on the market. If we can't, I'll get Zhou Guoping to think of other ways.” Jiang Chen didn't understand.

”No, it's not the problem with tree saplings, tree saplings are easy to obtain.” Seeing that Jiang Chen seemed to be misinterpreting her meaning, Sun Jiao forced a bitter smile. ”The problem is growing them.”

”Growing? I remember these mutated plants were able to survive in the apocalypse's soil, is there any problems?” Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows.

Typical crops could not grow in the nuclear and biological contaminated soil, but mutated plants that survived the war could. Logically, anything that could grow in the Sixth Street, the Fishbone base could grow the same thing.

Hearing Jiang Chen's question, Sun Jiao facepalmed as she began patiently explaining the fundamentals.

”To grow anything on the wasteland, there are two factors to consider. One is radiation level, and two is soil contamination level.

As long as there is material exchange with the outside world, it can not avoid the impact of radiation. There is nothing in the apocalypse that is free of radiation. Not even the drinking water treated by the automatic water purifying equipment. It doesn't negatively affect humans because of the existence of the EP and special medication that reduces the radiation level to below the danger threshold. However, plants are not so lucky.

To ensure the planted apple does not mutate, the radiation level must be controlled to below 1. If the radiation level is above 5, even normal seeds buried into the ground will become abnormal. With the Sixth Street's technology, it is able to control the radiation level to around 3, which certainly reflects how valuable the fruit cans you brought are.

But the mutated plants that survived through natural selection are not that delicate. Their resistance to radiation is quite high. Take Carm trees for example. As long as radiation levels are below 40, it can grow normally. Most of the places on the wasteland have a threshold value between 10-20. As long as it's not in a nuclear crater, the radiation level will not reach 40.

The soil contamination is relatively easier to solve since soilless planting technology is incredibly mature in the apocalypse.

Therefore, the plantations in the apocalypse can be divided into two kinds.

One is the kind that uses soilless technology to grow crops.

There is a distinct advantage to growing crops this way is that it can easily control soil contamination, and the production area would also be greater compared to soil plants. The disadvantage is also evident. Mainly being the high cost. To use soilless technology to produce industrial raw materials like Carm tree sap would undoubtedly bankrupt the business. It normally would be used to grow luxury goods, such as not completely mutated fruit.

The signature building in the Sixth Street includes a soilless plantation tower. Of course, because of the appearance of fruit cans, this industry was on the brink of bankruptcy.

The other kind is normal soil plantation.

Simple and straightforward, planting the seeds and watering them would yield plants. Whether it would be done by human labor with scythe spreading the seeds or mechanical plantation, it would be up to the preference of the owner. It is used to mostly produce non-expensive mutated plants, such as the industrially used Carm tree sap, and different flavors of tobacco...

The advantage of this method is the low cost, but it has a strict requirement for the quality of the soil.

Take Carm trees for example. Only plants with soil contamination less than ten can be used to grow these trees. This type of soil is also extremely rare on the wasteland, so Carm tree sap production is not high even on the Sixth Street. Previously, this raw material had minimal demand, but during this period, demand far exceeded supply.”

”Couldn't we just purchase soilless equipment?” Jiang Chen was refusing to give up.

”Using soilless equipment to grow Carm trees, how much crystals would you use to obtain one ton of Carm tree sap.” Sun Jiao facepalmed feeling helpless.

[This is problematic now.]

Jiang Chen's eyebrows began to twist as he fell into deep thought.

But then, he suddenly remembered Lin Lin.

[Yes! The Garden of Eden Project!

If it is possible to change the local biosphere, there is no reason there is no technology to change the condition of the soil!]

...

”Did you think of something?” Sun Jiao looked confusedly as Jiang Chen's always changing expression.

”Mhmm.” The tip of Jiang Chen's mouth curled up, ”Looks like the ”little slave” in our mansion is finally going to be useful.”

Sun Jiao instantly understood as a sign of joy also flashed across her face.