Agricultural experts harvest rice resistant to saline-alkaline soil in Alar city, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The majority of China’s saline-alkaline land is located in arid and semi-arid central and western regions. Photo Credit: Xinhua
EnvironmentTechnology ChinaWe Can Now Make Soil Less Salty for More Food Security
Scientists have found a way to turn swathes of salty soil previously unsuitable for agriculture into fertile farmlands.
The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences is using crop stalks and plastic sheets to reduce salinity within soil. The team was able to reduce the soil’s salt content by as much as 36 percent, resulting in a 30.5 perent increase in harvest yield.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, as much as nine per cent of Earth’s landmass is unsuitable for agriculture due to its salinity. Food security is critical with a growing population – and for the 1.4 billion individuals already living in China. According to the Chinese government’s estimates, at least one-third of the two hundred and forty-seven million acres of the Chinese mainland, considered of “high salinity,” can effectively become fertile farmland using these new techniques. China is working with countries like Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the United States to find solutions for saline soil.
