The pale morning sun failed to bring warmth to the Edgewood wheat fields. Under its cold light, the expanse of crops that should have been golden yellow looked distressing. The wheat stalks stood thin and weak, their leaves withered with worrying brown spots. In several patches of land, only short stubble remained, silent witnesses to an unseen attack. The usually fresh scent of the soil was mixed with a damp and slightly sour odor that was unpleasant.
I, the newly arrived Lord Alaric Edgewood, walked slowly among the rows of sickly plants. Each step on the ground felt hard and dry in some places, yet soggy and muddy in others. This inconsistency immediately caught my attention.
"Elara, gather all the workers with more than ten seasons of farming experience," I commanded with a calm yet firm voice. "We cannot rely solely on general complaints. I want a deep understanding of the condition of this field."
Soon after, six workers gathered around me. There was old Hemlock with wrinkles around his eyes that held a wealth of experience, young but meticulous Anya, strong Gareth accustomed to hard labor, quiet Maeve whose observations were sharp, and two other younger but enthusiastic workers. Their faces reflected a mixture of worry and hope.
"Lord," Hemlock began with a raspy voice, "we have done all that we know. We plowed the land as usual, sowed the best seeds we had, and prayed for enough rain. But this year… the land seems to refuse to yield."
"Tell me, step by step, what you did from the beginning of the season until now," I asked, taking out a piece of charcoal and bark from my pocket to take notes. I felt like a scientist examining a damaged specimen.
Gareth began to recount how hard the soil was during the spring plowing. Maeve added that the planted seeds seemed to grow slowly, and some of them didn't even sprout at all. Anya pointed to the yellow spots on the leaves and showed the small, dark brown insects swarming on the wheat stalks.
"These insects," Anya said, "they appeared about a month ago. We tried to remove them by hand, but there were too many."
I crouched down, carefully observing the insects. They were small, with six legs and short antennae. I didn't know their species name in this world, but my instincts told me they were significant pests.
"Hemlock, you said the winter was very cold and spring was late," I said while jotting down notes. "Was there any significant difference compared to previous years? Did the snow melt slower? Were there any unusual floods or waterlogging?"
Hemlock thought for a moment, furrowing his brow. "The snow did last longer in some parts of the field, Lord. And when it melted, the water pooled in the lowlands for several days. We thought it would be good for the soil, but perhaps it was the opposite."
Prolonged waterlogging could cause root rot and alter the soil structure. This could explain why some parts of the field were more severely damaged.
"Let's examine the soil more closely," I said, standing up. "I want you to dig some small holes in various parts of the field. About a foot deep. I want to see the soil layers."
We dispersed, digging small holes with shovels and other simple tools. I observed each layer of soil that was lifted. In some places, the topsoil looked dry and cracked, while underneath it felt compact and clayey. In the lower areas, the soil felt damp and darker, even smelling slightly unpleasant, an indication of poor drainage.
"Observe the color and texture of the soil in each hole," I instructed. "Are there any earthworms? Do the roots look healthy or rotten?"
Anya found some wheat roots that were brown and mushy. "Look, Lord. The roots are like this in many of the withered plants."
Root rot. This could be caused by too much stagnant water or by certain fungi that thrive in damp conditions.
I took a handful of soil from several different holes, squeezing it in my hand. The texture varied from sandy and easily crumbled to sticky and difficult to break apart. This indicated that the soil type in the Edgewood fields might not be uniform.
"Have we ever tried planting other crops in this field?" I asked. "Besides wheat?"
"Lord Father once tried planting barley in a small part of the field," Gareth replied. "But the yield wasn't very good, so we went back to planting wheat."
Crop rotation. This was an important concept I had learned about. Planting the same crop continuously could deplete specific nutrients from the soil and increase the risk of pest and disease attacks specific to that crop.
"We need to test this soil further," I murmured more to myself. "I want to know what it lacks and what it has in excess."
Of course, I didn't have modern soil testing equipment. But I could use observation and logic. Soil that was dry and cracked might lack organic matter. Soil that was soggy and smelly might have drainage problems. And the severe pest infestation indicated a lack of ecological balance in the field.
"Hemlock, do you know what wild plants grow around this field?" I asked.
Hemlock thought for a moment. "There are several types of wild grasses, small flowers… and near the forest there are nettles and some types of ferns."
Nettles. I remembered reading about the benefits of nettles for fertilizing soil and as a natural pest repellent. This might be one simple solution.
"Alright," I said, gathering all the workers. "Here's what we're going to do. First, we will create drainage channels in the areas of the field that are often waterlogged. Gareth, you and a few others will be responsible for this. Second, Anya, continue to observe these insects. Try to catch a few and bring them to me. I want to study them further. Third, Hemlock, please show me all the wild plants that grow around here, especially nettles and ferns. We will try to use them as natural fertilizer and perhaps also to control pests."
The faces that were previously gloomy now showed a glimmer of hope. They might not fully understand my ideas, but they saw earnestness and concrete action.
"We also need to think about crop rotation for the next season," I continued. "We cannot keep planting wheat in the same soil. We need to find other crops that can help restore the soil's fertility."
This was just the beginning. I didn't have the agricultural expertise of the Middle Ages, but I had a different kind of knowledge and a different way of thinking. I would use common sense and the information I remembered from my world to try and heal the wounds of Oakhaven's soil. The first step was to understand the problem deeply. And from there, I would try to plant the seeds of change.