明代华北平原的粟谷种植及其在粮食种植结构中的地位

粟谷是明代华北平原最为重要的秋粮作物,不仅广为种植,而且品种多样。伴随着明代华北平原小麦、高粱种植区域的扩大,粟谷在粮食种植结构中的比重有所降低,但其核心和主体地位并未动摇。《天工开物》所言北方"烝民粒食,小麦居半,而黍、稷、稻、粱仅居半"之语,当是大体估测,而非实数,但却造成一种北方粟作地位无足轻重的错觉。事实上,"麦不熟小歉,谷不熟则大饥"仍然是明代华北平原粮食种植结构的基本写照。

Study on the Planting of Millet and Its Position in Cropping Structure in the North China Plain in Ming Dynasty

Millet was the most important autumn grain in North China Plain in Ming Dynasty. It was not only widely planted, but also had many varieties. With the expansion of wheat and sorghum planting areas, the proportion of millet planting began to decrease in the grain planting structure, but its core and dominant position had not been shaken. The saying that "wheat sowing accounts for half, while millet, rice and sorghum account for only half" in Heavenly Creations was based on speculation rather than real calculation, which gave people an illusion that millet farming was insignificant in the North. In fact, the millet was still the main food of growing in the North China Plain in the Ming Dynasty.