氾勝之在漢成帝(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)33—公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)7年在位(wei))時為議郎(lang),知農事,后官(guan)至黃門侍郎(lang)。他(ta)曾以(yi)輕車(che)使者(zhe)的名義,在三(san)輔(今陜西省平原)指導農業生產(chan),并使該地區(qu)獲得(de)豐收。《漢書·文(wen)藝(yi)志》顏(yan)師(shi)在注引劉向(xiang)《別錄》云,成帝時使氾“致用三(san)輔,有好田者(zhe)師(shi)之”。《晉書·食貨志》數(shu):“昔漢遣輕車(che)使者(zhe)氾勝之督三(san)輔種麥(mai),而關中遂穰”。
氾(fan)勝之(zhi)其本姓凡氏,秦亂時避地氾(fan)水(今(jin)山東(dong)曹縣北(bei)),因改姓氾(fan)。漢成(cheng)帝時為議郎(lang),曾(ceng)任勸農(nong)(nong)使者(zhe)和(he)輕車(che)使者(zhe),在(zai)都城長安附近(jin)(今(jin)陜西關(guan)中地區)指導農(nong)(nong)業生產(chan),后升任為御史(shi)。他總結黃(huang)河流域(yu)流域(yu)的農(nong)(nong)業生產(chan)經驗,創造(zao)精耕(geng)細作的區田法(fa),另還有溲種(zhong)法(fa)、穗選法(fa)、嫁接法(fa)等。著有《氾(fan)勝之(zhi)書》共2卷(juan)18篇。
氾(fan)勝之(zhi)出生(sheng)在(zai)一個(ge)農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)民家(jia)庭,自幼對農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)作物生(sheng)長和栽(zai)培就很感興趣,喜歡(huan)研究農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)技術,注意搜(sou)集(ji)、總結家(jia)鄉農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)民的(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)產(chan)經驗,積(ji)累了豐富的(de)(de)(de)農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)知(zhi)識。在(zai)漢成(cheng)帝的(de)(de)(de)時候,氾(fan)勝之(zhi)步入仕(shi)途(tu),官居議郎。他(ta)受(shou)朝廷的(de)(de)(de)遣使(shi)(shi),以(yi)輕車使(shi)(shi)者的(de)(de)(de)身份(fen)到(dao)三輔(fu)(即(ji)關中(zhong)平(ping)原(yuan),今陜西省中(zhong)部)地(di)(di)區(qu)管理農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)。在(zai)此期間,他(ta)深入到(dao)農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產(chan)實踐中(zhong)去,認真研究當地(di)(di)的(de)(de)(de)土壤、氣候和水利情況,因地(di)(di)制宜地(di)(di)總結、推(tui)廣(guang)各種(zhong)先進的(de)(de)(de)農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)業(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產(chan)技術。經過實地(di)(di)考(kao)查,反復試驗,他(ta)總結推(tui)廣(guang)了新的(de)(de)(de)耕(geng)作方(fang)法(fa)——“區(qu)田(tian)法(fa)”。他(ta)把(ba)土地(di)(di)分(fen)成(cheng)若干(gan)個(ge)小(xiao)區(qu),做成(cheng)區(qu)田(tian)。每一塊小(xiao)區(qu),四周打上土埂,中(zhong)間整(zheng)平(ping),深挖作區(qu),調(diao)和土壤,以(yi)增強土壤的(de)(de)(de)保水保肥能力。采用(yong)寬幅點播或方(fang)形點播法(fa),推(tui)行密植,注意中(zhong)耕(geng)灌溉等。區(qu)田(tian)法(fa)的(de)(de)(de)推(tui)廣(guang)和運用(yong),大大提高了關中(zhong)地(di)(di)區(qu)單位面積(ji)產(chan)量(liang),受(shou)到(dao)廣(guang)大農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)民的(de)(de)(de)歡(huan)迎。一直(zhi)到(dao)清(qing)朝時,農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)學家(jia)楊屾在(zai)關中(zhong)地(di)(di)區(qu)依然提倡這種(zhong)耕(geng)作方(fang)法(fa),甚至解放后的(de)(de)(de)陜北地(di)(di)區(qu),農(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)民還保留著氾(fan)勝之(zhi)當年推(tui)行的(de)(de)(de)區(qu)田(tian)耕(geng)作法(fa)。
氾勝(sheng)之對農業科學的(de)(de)貢獻是多方(fang)面的(de)(de)。他(ta)大力(li)推(tui)廣種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)穗(sui)選法,要求在田間選擇(ze)子(zi)(zi)粒又多又飽滿的(de)(de)穗(sui)留作種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)。他(ta)發明(ming)推(tui)廣了“溲(sou)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)法”(在種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)上(shang)粘上(shang)一(yi)層(ceng)糞殼作為種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)肥),其原理直(zhi)至今天還在應用。瓠子(zi)(zi)是當時(shi)三輔地區(qu)一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)重要的(de)(de)經濟(ji)作物。但由于(yu)瓠既(ji)不耐旱又不耐澇(lao),產量(liang)一(yi)直(zhi)低(di)而不穩(wen)。氾勝(sheng)之聽說有一(yi)位(wei)農民(min)是種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)瓠子(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)行家里手(shou),就親自登(deng)門拜訪(fang),同(tong)這(zhe)位(wei)農民(min)交上(shang)了朋友。他(ta)仔細(xi)觀察研究這(zhe)位(wei)農民(min)的(de)(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)瓠過程(cheng),自己還親手(shou)反(fan)復(fu)做種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi)試驗(yan)。他(ta)終于(yu)總結出了一(yi)套瓠子(zi)(zi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)植(zhi)高產技術,即“種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)瓠法”。用這(zhe)個(ge)新(xin)技術栽種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)瓠子(zi)(zi),個(ge)兒長得特別大,一(yi)個(ge)可(ke)抵過去(qu)的(de)(de)10個(ge)大。
氾勝之(zhi)雖然身(shen)為朝廷命官,但卻時(shi)時(shi)想著農業(ye)(ye)豐收,惦著百姓的溫飽。為了(le)總結推廣群眾中的新鮮經(jing)(jing)驗(yan)(yan),他常常微服出(chu)訪,走遍了(le)關中平原,虛心向種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)田好手請(qing)教,把(ba)群眾的種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)田經(jing)(jing)驗(yan)(yan)同自己的研究成果結合起來。他對北方的水稻、蠶桑、小(xiao)麥(mai)、瓜(gua)果等作物的栽培(pei)技術進行了(le)深(shen)入的研究,總結推廣了(le)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)麥(mai)法(fa)(fa)、種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)瓠(hu)法(fa)(fa)、穗(sui)選法(fa)(fa)、種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)瓜(gua)法(fa)(fa)、調節稻田水溫法(fa)(fa)、保墑(di)法(fa)(fa)、桑苗截干法(fa)(fa)等。農業(ye)(ye)技術的推廣,促進了(le)農業(ye)(ye)生(sheng)產的發展,受到了(le)廣大農民的尊敬(jing)和愛戴(dai)。
氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)之經過長期的(de)(de)刻(ke)苦努力(li),總(zong)結自己指導農業(ye)之經驗,整理農書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)一部(bu),全書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)原2卷18篇(pian),北宋(song)時丟佚。后來從《齊民要術》及(ji)《太平御覽》等書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)中(zhong)輯錄約(yue)3000余字。《漢(han)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)·藝文志(zhi)》農家類(lei)稱(cheng)之《氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)之十八篇(pian)》,也(ye)稱(cheng)《氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)之種植書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》或《氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)之農書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》,后通(tong)稱(cheng)《氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)之書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)》,這(zhe)是我國第一部(bu)較為完整的(de)(de)農業(ye)科學專著,發展了戰國以(yi)來的(de)(de)農學,在(zai)當時享有很高(gao)的(de)(de)聲譽,以(yi)至(zhi)對后世產(chan)生了極其(qi)深遠的(de)(de)影響。唐賈公(gong)彥《周禮疏》說:“漢(han)時農書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)數家,氾(fan)(fan)勝(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)為上(shang)”。
《氾勝之書》首次記(ji)載了“區(qu)田(tian)”技術(shu)。這是一(yi)種(zhong)園藝式(shi)的(de)精耕(geng)細作(zuo)(zuo)高(gao)(gao)產(chan)的(de)耕(geng)作(zuo)(zuo)技術(shu)。“區(qu)田(tian)法”把耕(geng)地分為上、中、下農(nong)區(qu)三種(zhong)類型,通過深耕(geng)、勤澆、精管(guan),使農(nong)作(zuo)(zuo)物獲得高(gao)(gao)產(chan)。《氾勝之書》還(huan)總結(jie)了冬麥(mai)、春(chun)麥(mai)、大豆(dou)、桑等(deng)13種(zhong)農(nong)作(zuo)(zuo)物的(de)栽培技術(shu);此外,書中還(huan)有關于(yu)嫁(jia)接法、輪作(zuo)(zuo)、間作(zuo)(zuo)、混作(zuo)(zuo)等(deng)方(fang)面(mian)的(de)記(ji)載。