"A major effect of not cultivating is that it destroys the ecological balance," says Wu. With the fields dry, the groundwater is not replenished, affecting the water cycle and microclimate. There are many knock-on effects. With regard to suggestions from academics that large areas of fields be set aside all at once during the spring dry period, he urges the government to proceed cautiously.
「休耕更大的影響是破壞生態平衡，」吳玉土說，乾涸的農田使地下水缺乏挹注、影響水文循環，也會改變微氣候，牽連廣泛，對於近年來有學界提議春旱季節的一期稻作應大面積休耕，他認為政府必須謹慎評估。