This study addresses the low yield and fertilizer utilization efficiency of potatoes in the arid region of Xinjiang, Northwest China. The effect of a novel, fulvic acid-based specialized fertilizer for drip application on potato growth, development, yield, and fertilizer efficiency is investigated. The aim is to identify a suitable fertilizer formula for potato cultivation in Xinjiang and promote its demonstration and application, providing a theoretical basis for improving fertilizer efficiency and achieving stable, high yields in the region. The experiment was conducted with potato variety ‘Xisen 6’ using a field trial design, which included five treatments: no fertilizer (CK), conventional fertilizer (CF: N-P-K = 258-245-338 kg·ha⁻¹), formulated fertilizer 1 (F1: 120 g·L⁻¹ fulvic acid, N-P-K = 110-100-120 g·L⁻¹), formulated fertilizer 2 (F2: 60 g·L⁻¹ fulvic acid, N-P-K = 130-120-150 g·L⁻¹), and formulated fertilizer 3 (F3: 30 g·L⁻¹ fulvic acid, N-P-K = 170-150-130 g·L⁻¹). Agronomic traits, gas exchange parameters of leaves during the tuber expansion stage, and yield components at harvest were measured, along with the fertilizer use efficiency for each treatment. Results show that F1, F2, and F3 improved the potato plant height, stem diameter, aboveground dry weight, SPAD value, stomatal conductance (Gs), and yield. Among these, F2 significantly enhanced plant height, stem diameter, aboveground dry weight, and the accumulation of relative chlorophyll content (SPAD value) during the tuber expansion stage, increased photosynthesis, and further improved yield and fertilizer efficiency, resulting in a yield increase of 121.29% and 34.6% compared to CK and CF, respectively. Therefore, formula fertilizer F2 is identified as the optimal fertilization strategy for potato cultivation in Xinjiang. Its application has been further extended in demonstration trials. Field demonstration results show that F2 significantly increased potato yield, with a 14.79% yield increase compared to CK, proving its effectiveness in replacing conventional fertilizers and enhancing production.

Building highway and its biological protection system in a drought-affected shifting-sand desert is a great challenge. This challenge was completed by the construction of the Taklimakan Desert Highway Shelterbelt (TDHS)—the longest of its kind in the world (436 km). The TDHS can serve as a model for highway construction and desertification control using eco-friendly and cost-effective approaches in other desert regions. Notably, we proved that local saline groundwater irrigation offers potential advantages and opportunities for the growth of halophytes and sandy soil development in hyper-arid desert environments. Here, we systematically (1) summarize the project, its results, and vital technical issues of saline water irrigation; (2) address soil hydrological processes that play a crucial role in maintaining those systems; and (3) highlight useful insights for soil development, plant survival, and soil–plant–water–biota synergy mechanisms. Indeed, the TDHS project has provided a proof of concept for restoration and desert greening initiatives.

Many studies have investigated how soil water availability in shallow soil affects forest transpiration, but how deep soil water status (below 1 m depth) alters tree water use remains poorly understood. To improve our understanding of how deep soil water changes tree transpiration dynamics, we measured soil water content (SWC) in more than 20 m depths, the radial sap flow profile and the leaf area index (LAI) in the 2017 growing season in 9-, 12-, 16-, 19- and 23-year-old afforested apple (Rosaceae) trees on the Chinese Loess Plateau. SWC was also measured in long-term cultivated farmland to derive SWC before afforestation. The results showed that there was no statistical difference in SWC in shallow soil among orchards (p > 0.05), while SWC in deep soil reduced rapidly with increasing tree age. The average SWC at 1–20 m decreased from 0.27 ± 0.02 cm³ cm⁻³ in farmland to 0.21 ± 0.03 cm³ cm⁻³ in the 23-year-old orchard. Moreover, water storage in deep soil decreased by 139 mm yr⁻¹ between the 9- and 12-year-old stands, 105 mm yr⁻¹ between the 12- and 16-year-old stands, 44 mm yr⁻¹ between the 16- and 19-year-old stands, and 9 mm yr⁻¹ from the 19- to 23-year-old stands, indicating that gradually decreased SWC in deep soil has restricted tree water use. Due to the changes in SWC, growing-season transpiration and the LAI peaked in the 16-year-old orchard and then decreased with increasing stand age. Growing-season transpiration in the 23-year-old orchard was only 77% of that in the 16-year stands, despite the older trees having larger diameters at the breast height. Our results suggest that soil water availability in deep soil plays an important role in regulating trees’ transpiration.

The ecological restoration of saline land in the Yellow River Delta is essential for the sustainability of this region. Halophytic species, like Suaeda salsa, are critical for the restoration process. However, potential differences in traits of heteromorphic seeds collected from the intertidal zone and inland condition have been largely overlooked. The seeds were analyzed for hardness, nutrient elements, and secretions, while structural differences were observed under a stereomicroscope. Germination percentages of the different seed types and subsequent seedling growth were also recorded. Our study found that the black seeds from intertidal zone had the highest hardness when compared to the three other types of seeds. Nutrient analysis revealed that brown seeds had a higher iron (Fe) content than black seeds. Accordingly, brown seed embryos were greener compared to their black seed counterparts due to the iron’s role in chlorophyll synthesis. Our results also revealed that brown seeds secreted greater amounts of exudates than black seeds. Finally, both the intertidal brown seeds and the inland-grown brown seeds had higher germination percentages and better early seedling growth than the corresponding black seeds. The differential characteristics between dimorphic seeds and seedlings may influence their environmental adaptation in different saline environments.