Lotus roots grown in well water

Lotus roots grown in well water

　　The lotus roots from Xinzheng, grown in well water, are white, delicate, smooth, tender, crisp, sweet, pure, residue-free, fragrant, mellow, and highly nutritious. They can be stir-fried, sautéed, stewed, boiled, or made into lotus root powder and various fancy desserts. Regular consumption is believed to have health benefits such as calming the nerves, lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation, relieving diarrhea, and aiding weight loss—making them a true health food. Currently, Xinzheng has been recognized by Henan Province as a standardized demonstration base for pollution-free lotus root cultivation.

　　Xinzheng is located in the transitional zone between the mountainous region of western Henan and the plains of eastern Henan, featuring a warm temperate monsoon climate with abundant sunlight, a long frost-free period, large diurnal temperature variations, shallow groundwater levels, and neutral soil—all of which are highly suitable for lotus root growth. The area’s four major rivers were known for their abundant lotus root production as early as the Tang Dynasty, with one river running north-south even named “Lotus River” because of this. In 1923, the Lotus and Crane Square Cauldron, excavated in Xinzheng and representing the highest level of bronze casting technology in China's Bronze Age, indicates that lotus root cultivation had already begun in Xinzheng during the Spring and Autumn Period.

　　Due to severe surface water pollution, the planting area of lotus roots in Xinzheng has gradually shrunk over the years, with yields and quality declining, making it unable to meet local demand. Starting in 1998, Xinzheng pioneered a new method of growing lotus roots in sandy fields. In areas far from the city, free from pollution, in barren and arid sandy soil, they developed contiguous plots of water-efficient lotus root farming by constructing artificial ponds, using irrigation from deep wells with clean water, and monitoring the entire production process according to national green food standards. In 2001, Xinzheng lotus roots were certified as green food by the China Green Food Development Center. Currently, with the support and guidance of the municipal government, the cultivation of well water lotus roots has rapidly expanded. The planting area in Xinzheng has reached 60,000 mu, with an annual output of over 150 million kilograms. Lotus root farming has become a key agricultural feature and leading industry in the sandy regions of eastern Xinzheng, serving as an important channel for increasing agricultural efficiency and farmers' income. Xinzheng has gradually become a distribution hub for northern lotus roots and vegetables, and the city has been honored as the “Hometown of Well Water Lotus Roots in China.”