Complete Treatise on Agriculture

Complete Treatise on Agriculture was written during 1625 to 1628, a large agricultural science masterpiece written by the famous scientist Xu Guangqi.

Complete Treatise on Agriculture was written by Xu Guangqi, who combined his own research results and studies with the systematic excerpts and translation of agricultural books and agricultural literature by predecessors. The book quoted more than 200 kinds of literatures. Complete Treatise on Agriculture contains the agriculture-related policies, systems, measures, tools, characteristics of crops, technical knowledge, and so on, thus it not only is the summary of agriculture in China before the 17th century, but also introduces some foreign agricultural knowledge.

Complete Treatise on Agriculture contains the two aspects of agricultural administration and agricultural techniques. Agricultural administration is manifested mainly in the development of North China's agricultural production by exploration of wasteland and development of irrigation works, as well as the attention for policies of wasteland such as be prepared against natural disasters stress and save virgin lands. In terms of agriculture techniques, the theory of "climate prevails” in the ancient Chinese agriculture is toppled; the dry farming techniques in the south is further improved; the cultivation of sweet potato is promoted; and experiences of cultivation are summed up; the occurrence rules of locust disasters as well as the control method have been put up.

Complete Treatise on Agriculture is the result of long-term practice and investigation as well as research by Xu Guangqi. He devoted his whole life studying agricultural science. Complete Treatise on Agriculture was considered as the most comprehensive masterpiece of agricultural science in the largest agricultural science history of ancient China.