China starts growing rice in the desert

May 31. () –

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences have harvested the first batch of rice grown in the desert, in greenhouses built in Xinjiang Uyghurin the northwest of the country.

“Rice is grown in three-layer frames along with precise environmental control in desert greenhouses, instead of conventional methods, reducing the growing cycle by almost half, harvested in just two months”said Yang Qichang, the chief scientist of the Institute of Urban Agriculture (IUA), quoted by Xinhua.

According to Yang, this achievement built on previous successes at the plant factory in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan province, where his team halved the growing period for the first time through rapid breeding technology in 2021.

In Yang’s view, the harsh climate of the Hotan Desert offers an opportunity rather than an obstacle. The unique geographic features of this region, including long hours of sunshine and a large temperature difference between day and night, They provide an ideal condition for cultivation.

Researchers have also accelerated plant growth by applying dynamic LED lighting recipes, specific formulations of nutrient solutions, and advanced soilless growing technologies.

“By harnessing the advantages of the desert climate, such as abundant light and heat resources, the potential for protected agriculture becomes more and more promisingpaving the way for sustainable food production in Xinjiang,” said Shi Dawei, assistant researcher at the IUA.

According to Yang, by using energy-efficient technologies in the Hotan Desert greenhouses, operating costs were significantly reduced compared to conventional greenhouses.

“Currently, the construction cost of energy-saving desert greenhouses is 350 yuan (about 48.2 US dollars) per square meter, about one-third of that of greenhouses in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, “Its operating cost is approximately 25 percent of Dutch greenhouses,” Yang said, adding that greenhouses in the Netherlands are recognized as one of the leading examples of facility-based agriculture.

“In the future, both the construction and operation costs of these types of greenhouses can be reduced through the use of green energy, mechanization and artificial intelligence. These greenhouses will be highly competitive internationally,” he added.

Yang said this breakthrough in desert greenhouse crop rapid cultivation technology provides technical support for the use of desert greenhouses to carry out annual crop production and rapid cultivation in Xinjiang in the future.

Yang and his research team have also explored key technologies for rapid cultivation of staple crops such as soybeans, corn and wheat, as well as rapeseed, cotton and alfalfa in the desert greenhouse in Hotan.