Farmers have recently been preparing for spring plowing in the saline-alkali soil improvement fields in Haizi township, Tumd Right Banner, Baotou. Six crops will be planted here, including sugar beets, corn, chili peppers, oats, rumex, and saline-tolerant grass.

The saline-alkali land in Tumd Right Banner is prepared to plant crops. [Photo/WeChat account of Tumd Right Banner]

Tumd Right Banner boasts 1.68 million mu (112,000 hectares) of arable land, a significant portion of which is affected by salinization. In March 2023, Tumd Right Banner Agricultural Investment Co partnered with the team of Academician Wang Qi from China Agricultural University to jointly research the improvement of saline-alkali land.

Wang's team selected 100 mu of land in Haizi township, encompassing mild, moderate, and severe salinization levels, as test fields. After careful selection, they decided to plant salt-tolerant tall wheatgrass for the initial experiment. By mid-September 2023, the crops had reached harvest standards, with the tallest plants reaching two meters.

This year, the workstation is committed to improving and utilizing the saline-alkali land in the banner by growing crops on it. The specific improvement methods include using soil restoration micro-ecological agents, organic fertilizers, and mineral fertilizers to support crop growth on moderate to severe saline-alkali soil.

Shi Wei, a member of Wang's team, said that during the later stages of field management, team members will be stationed daily, and instructors and experts will visit the fields every two weeks after crop emergence to provide guidance on tasks such as weeding and pest control.