從《四時纂要》一書看唐代的肥料使用

On Fertilizer Applications in the Tang Dynasty Based on the Sishi Zuanyao

《四時纂要》是一本完成於唐末的農業經營參考書，記載了當時各式作物詳盡的栽培作法，並論及獸醫、漁牧養殖作法、作物價格變動預測等農業經營知識，可謂一本多元化的農業經營參考書，是瞭解唐代社會經濟史實的重要著作。肥料是作物栽培階段不可或缺的元素，在《四時纂要》一書中可以看出，唐代肥料使用的種類不但增多，應用方法也十分多元，更重要的是，從肥料的應用方法，可看出唐代的農業經營已累積相當多的實證經驗，因為當時已經可以利用混合肥料的作法，改良土壤成份，使土壤具備適合作物生長的酸鹼度。此外，該書也歸納出何種肥料適合運用在何種作物，以達到最佳的種植效果。因此，從本書中不僅可看出肥料運用對提昇唐代農業生產力的幫助，亦見其對於唐代農業史研究所帶來的價值。

The Sishi Zuanyao（Seasonal Notes on Farming）, which was completed in thelater Tang Dynasty, was a reference on agricultural development, recording all kinds ofcultivation of crops in detail in addition to referring to veterinary science, fishery,livestock farming, aquaculture, and prediction of crops’ price changes. This book is notonly an all-embracing reference on agriculture but also an important literature tounderstand the social and economic history of the Tang Dynasty.Fertilizer is a necessary element for crops cultivation.As shown in the SishiZuanyao, not only were the number of fertilizer types increased but also the ways of itsapplication were fairly multiple.What is more important is that much verifiedexperience in agricultural development had been remarkably accumulated in the TangDynasty, indicated from the ways of application of fertilizer.At that time, soil could beimproved by using mixed fertilizer to have the acidity and alkalinity suitable for cropsgrowth.Moreover, concluded in this book was what type of fertilizer suited a specificcrop for best growth.Therefore, this book, which reveals that application of fertilizercontributed to the promotion of the agricultural productivity in the Tang Dynasty,shows its value in the research on the history of agriculture of the Tang Dynasty.