New Technology In China Turns Desert Into Fertile Farmland

Published by Maggie on September 23, 2017

The mission of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in the Inner Mongolian city of Erdos is to combat the spread of deserts worldwide. China was praised for a law it passed in 2002, that is the first law in the world dedicated to combating desert expansion. Since then, China has carried out several projects that have been successful, including at one desert in northern China.

One of those projects is that of the Chongqing Jiaotong University. Associate Professor Zhao Chaohua said: “According to our calculation, there are over 70 kinds of crops growing here. Many are not planted by us but they just grow themselves.” Chinese scientists have achieved success in growing crops in areas with less than ideal conditions caused by lack of rain and extremely hot temperatures.

Within just six months, crops like corn, tomatoes, sorghum and sunflowers are transforming more than 200 hectares of sand dunes into an oasis. It’s all thanks to new technology developed by researchers at Chongqing Jiaotong University. They developed a paste made of a substance found in plant cell walls.

When it’s added to sand, it’s able to retain water, nutrients and air

“The costs of artificial materials and machines for transforming sand into soil is lower compared with controlled environmental agriculture and reclamation,” Yang Qingguo, professor at Chongqing Jiaotong University said.

However, the team of researchers will not stop here. This fall they hope to transform additional 200 hectares of desert, and 13.000 in the next two years.

In three years, China hopes to reforest 50 percent of degraded desert land that can be treated.  By 2030, the United Nations is aiming to reach zero growth of desert farmland around the world.

Take a look at this:

Source: america.cgtn.com – author Frances Kuo

YouTube Channel:  CGTN America