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An artificial oasis is a desert area suitable for human occupation and agriculture by human management. Agricultural reclamation in artificial oases provides a means for population growth and urban expansion in arid regions, but it comes at an environmental cost. Xinjiang is a largely arid region in northwest China, in which agricultural cultivation is concentrated in piedmont oases. Xinjiang's agriculture expansion has placed it as the largest cotton and grape producing area in China. This study seeks to understand better the successes and challenges facing oasis agriculture and propose possible solutions. Through field investigation, experiments, and data collection, we reviewed a typical case of agricultural development over the past 60 years in the Mosuowan irrigation area of Xinjiang. We summarized the experiences and problems that emerged and then put forward some suggestions. We identified four factors that are critical for successful agricultural development: (1) irrigation infrastructure and water conservancy projects; (2) land consolidation; (3) intensive agricultural management; and (4) irrigation technology improvements. After nearly 60 years of rapid agricultural reclamation, we identified several challenges in sustainable agricultural development: (1) soil salinization; (2) ecological and environmental deterioration; (3) declines in economic benefits; (4) and soil and environment pollution. We propose the following measures that may feasibly address these concerns, respectively: (1) comprehensively harness saline-alkali land by means of improvers, biological methods, and drainage infrastructure; (2) establish desert-oasis ecological buffer zones; (3) adjust agricultural management policies; (4) and improve plastic recycling or degradability and adjusting irrigation and fertilization strategies to reduce soil pollution. Oasis agriculture is a complex and fragile system, and its sustainable development needs to be rooted in scientific management. We hope that our review can provide some reference for agricultural development in similar areas.
Tianyu Wang; Zhenhua Wang; Li Guo; Jinzhu Zhang; Wenhao Li; Huaijie He; Rui Zong; Dongwang Wang; Zhecheng Jia; Yue Wen. Experiences and challenges of agricultural development in an artificial oasis: A review. Agricultural Systems 2021, 193, 103220 .
AMA StyleTianyu Wang, Zhenhua Wang, Li Guo, Jinzhu Zhang, Wenhao Li, Huaijie He, Rui Zong, Dongwang Wang, Zhecheng Jia, Yue Wen. Experiences and challenges of agricultural development in an artificial oasis: A review. Agricultural Systems. 2021; 193 ():103220.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTianyu Wang; Zhenhua Wang; Li Guo; Jinzhu Zhang; Wenhao Li; Huaijie He; Rui Zong; Dongwang Wang; Zhecheng Jia; Yue Wen. 2021. "Experiences and challenges of agricultural development in an artificial oasis: A review." Agricultural Systems 193, no. : 103220.
The lowering of salt content in the field, especially in arid areas, after consecutive application of mulched drip irrigation (MDI) is of vital importance for sustainable cotton plantation. To elucidate the effects of long-term MDI on soil properties and cotton growth, this paper systematically monitored the soil salinity, ion concentrations and the yield of cotton in the field using MDI consecutively for six years in a typical oasis in Xinjiang, China. The results showed that MDI could significantly change salt distribution in the cotton field. During the six years tested, the soil salt content using MDI declined fast at first, and then the decline rate gradually decreased. In the 1st and 2nd year, the average salt content within 0–100 cm soil layer was larger than 20 g kg−1, which belonging to the saline soil. Then the salt content decreased to 10–20 g kg−1 in the 3rd and 4th year, and the cotton field declined to heavily saline soil. After 5 years of MDI, the soil turned to non-salinized. The Cl− and SO42− equivalence ratio (CSER) also decreased with the increase of application years of MDI. Saline-alkaline land developed from chloride-sulphate solonchak (0.2 < CSER < 1) into sulphate solonchak (CSER < 0.2) after 6 years of MDI. The survival rate of the cotton increased from 1.48% (1 year of MDI) to 76.3% (6 years of MDI), and the yield increased from 72.43 kg ha−1 to 4515.48 kg ha−1. When the average CSER, SAR and the soil salinity in 0–140 cm soil layer decreased to 0.60, 0.98 (mol kg−1)0.5 and 6.25 g kg−1, farmers can achieve a balance between income and expenditure. Moreover, when CSER, SAR, and the soil salinity continuously decreased to 0.44, 0.69 (mol kg−1)0.5 and 0.77 g kg−1, the cotton yield will exceed the average production level of cotton in Xinjiang. Under the current irrigation schedule in the oasis irrigation area, the soil salinity and groundwater level after applying MDI could be conducive to cotton growth. However, this situation had also caused a waste of nearly 200 mm of water resources. Therefore, authors suggested that further research on water-saving irrigation systems suitable for different soil conditions should be carried out, and also the differential quota management in production practice should be adopted.
Wenhao Li; Zhenhua Wang; Jinzhu Zhang; Ningning Liu. Variations of Soil Salinity and Cotton Growth under Six-Years Mulched Drip Irrigation. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1127 .
AMA StyleWenhao Li, Zhenhua Wang, Jinzhu Zhang, Ningning Liu. Variations of Soil Salinity and Cotton Growth under Six-Years Mulched Drip Irrigation. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1127.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWenhao Li; Zhenhua Wang; Jinzhu Zhang; Ningning Liu. 2021. "Variations of Soil Salinity and Cotton Growth under Six-Years Mulched Drip Irrigation." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1127.
To combat the problem of residual film pollution and ensure the sustainable development of agriculture in oasis areas, a field experiment was carried out in 2019 at the Wuyi Farm Corps Irrigation Center Test Station in Urumqi, Northwest China. Four types of biodegradable mulches, traditional plastic mulchs and a control group (bare land; referred to as CK) were compared, including a total of six different treatments. Effects of mulching on soil water and heat conditions as well as the yield and quality of processing tomatoes under drip irrigation were examined. In addition, a comparative analysis of economic benefits of biodegradable mulches was performed. Principal component analysis and gray correlation analysis were used to evaluate suitable mulching varieties for planting processing tomatoes under drip irrigation. Our results show that, compared with CK, biodegradable mulches and traditional plastic mulch have a similar effect on retaining soil moisture at the seedling stage but significantly increase soil moisture by 0.5%–1.5% and 1.5%–3.0% in the middle and late growth periods (P<0.050), respectively. The difference in the thermal insulation effect between biodegradable mulch and plastic mulch gradually reduces as the crop grows. Compared with plastic mulch, the average soil temperature at 5–20 cm depth under biodegradable mulches is significantly lowered by 2.04°C–3.52°C and 0.52°C–0.88°C (P<0.050) at the seedling stage and the full growth period, respectively, and the water use efficiency, average fruit yield, and production-investment ratio under biodegradable mulches were reduced by 0.89%–6.63%, 3.39%–8.69%, and 0.51%–6.33% (P<0.050), respectively. The comprehensive evaluation analysis suggests that the black oxidized biological double-degradation ecological mulch made from eco-benign plastic is the optimal film type under the study condition. Therefore, from the perspective of sustainable development, biodegradable mulch is a competitive alternative to plastic mulch for large-scale tomato production under drip irrigation in the oasis.
Hao Jia; Zhenhua Wang; Jinzhu Zhang; Wenhao Li; Zuoli Ren; Zhecheng Jia; Qin Wang. Effects of biodegradable mulch on soil water and heat conditions, yield and quality of processing tomatoes by drip irrigation. Journal of Arid Land 2020, 12, 819 -836.
AMA StyleHao Jia, Zhenhua Wang, Jinzhu Zhang, Wenhao Li, Zuoli Ren, Zhecheng Jia, Qin Wang. Effects of biodegradable mulch on soil water and heat conditions, yield and quality of processing tomatoes by drip irrigation. Journal of Arid Land. 2020; 12 (5):819-836.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHao Jia; Zhenhua Wang; Jinzhu Zhang; Wenhao Li; Zuoli Ren; Zhecheng Jia; Qin Wang. 2020. "Effects of biodegradable mulch on soil water and heat conditions, yield and quality of processing tomatoes by drip irrigation." Journal of Arid Land 12, no. 5: 819-836.
Low water and fertilizer use efficiency have become important factors restricting the sustainable development of agriculture in extreme arid areas, typically like Xinjiang in China. In order to optimize the water and fertilizer management system of grape drip irrigation in the region, field experiments were carried out to study the effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the physiological growth, yield, and quality of grapes. Meanwhile, principal component analysis, grey correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to quantify the relative optimal amount of water and fertilizer. The results showed that the effects of water and fertilizer interaction on the photosynthetic index and fluorescence index of grape leaves, in different growth periods, ng reached extremely significant levels (p < 0.01). The physiological indicators showed regular changes with the increase and decrease of water and fertilizer use and the appropriate amount of water and fertilizer could maintain the index at a superior level. Meanwhile, there are differences in the index of different growth stages and regular changes with the growth period. The effects of water and fertilizer interaction on the yield, water use efficiency, and quality of drip irrigation reached a very significant level (p < 0.01). The yield reached the maximum in W3F2 treatment and the yield increased by 29.76% compared with the minimum yield of W1F1. The quality index reached a superior level in W3F2 treatment. The results of principal component analysis and grey correlation analysis showed that the optimal water and fertilizer dosage was W3F2 (irrigation 750 mm, fertilization 750 kg ha−1), of which N (300 kg ha−1)-P2O5 (150 kg ha−1)-K2O (300 kg ha−1), and multiple regression analysis was employed to determine the optimal range of water and fertilizer use is the following: Irrigation volume 725–825 mm and fertilization amount 684–889 kg ha−1, of which N (273.6–355.6 kg ha−1) - P2O5 (136.8–177.8 kg ha−1) - K2O (273.6–355.6 kg ha−1). The research results can provide a scientific basis for the water and fertilizer management and drip irrigation technology of drip irrigation in seedless white grape fields in extremely arid areas and it is of great significance for the efficient use of regional water and fertilizer resources and the realization of sustainable socio-economic development in the region.
Yusheng Hou; Zhenhua Wang; Huaijun Ding; Wenhao Li; Yue Wen; Jifeng Zhang; Yunqing Dou. Evaluation of Suitable Amount of Water and Fertilizer for Mature Grapes in Drip Irrigation in Extreme Arid Regions. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2063 .
AMA StyleYusheng Hou, Zhenhua Wang, Huaijun Ding, Wenhao Li, Yue Wen, Jifeng Zhang, Yunqing Dou. Evaluation of Suitable Amount of Water and Fertilizer for Mature Grapes in Drip Irrigation in Extreme Arid Regions. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (7):2063.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYusheng Hou; Zhenhua Wang; Huaijun Ding; Wenhao Li; Yue Wen; Jifeng Zhang; Yunqing Dou. 2019. "Evaluation of Suitable Amount of Water and Fertilizer for Mature Grapes in Drip Irrigation in Extreme Arid Regions." Sustainability 11, no. 7: 2063.