What role did Champa rice and irrigation play in Song agriculture?

• A. Champa rice allowed double-cropped harvests, increasing yields; irrigation projects supported larger populations
• B. Champa rice reduced yields and irrigation was unnecessary
• C. Champa rice had no impact on population size
• D. Champa rice replaced rice with millet

Answer: (B)

Champa rice and irrigation together boosted Song agriculture by raising overall production and enabling more reliable, multi-crop farming. Champa rice, a higher-yielding and earlier-maturing variety brought from Southeast Asia, could often be grown for a second harvest in many regions, dramatically increasing annual grain output and supporting a growing population. At the same time, extensive irrigation works—canals, dikes, and reservoirs—improved water control, expanded potentially arable land, and reduced the risk of drought or flood, making intensive farming feasible and stable. The combination meant more food for cities and countryside alike, which underpinned urban growth, economic development, and greater societal resilience. In short, higher yields from Champa rice paired with reliable irrigation transformed agricultural capacity in the Song era, rather than being unimportant or detrimental.