Growing blueberries on the edge of a desert sounds like a fairy tale. Yet, on the northern rim of the Taklimakan Desert in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a blueberry plantation is now in full harvest.

At the blueberry plantation in Jinyang Town, Alar City, clusters of blueberries hang from the branches, glistening like gems. The ripe berries are plump and covered with a thin layer of white fruit powder. Workers are busy picking and sorting the fruit.

How challenging is it to grow blueberries in the desert? Blueberries thrive in acidic soil and moist environments with shallow root systems. However, the desert is characterized by aridity, large diurnal temperature variations, and high soil salinity. Each of these factors poses a significant test to the survival of blueberries. Local agricultural technicians have conducted research on saline-alkali land and blueberry climate adaptability, adjusting soil acidity and using drip irrigation and temperature control systems to aid the growth of blueberries.

In Greenhouse No. 2 of the plantation, only technician Huang Song operates the automated management system. It turns out that the plantation uses an intelligent management system that can monitor the growth environment of blueberries in real time through an Internet of Things (IoT) platform, ensuring that temperature, humidity, and water and fertilizer parameters remain at optimal levels.

“With just a few clicks, the 5G IoT platform can monitor the growth of blueberries in real time, and the water and fertilizer formulas can be automatically adjusted,” Huang said happily. “Thanks to this system, only two staff members are needed for the management of 22 greenhouses. It not only saves labor but also allows for more efficient and precise management.”

“The blueberries are now ripening gradually, with fruit diameters ranging from 18 to 26 millimeters. They are sweet and nutritious. The daily harvest is between 200 and 500 kilograms, and during peak times, the daily output can reach about two tons,” said Li Cuihua, a plantation worker. Since the successful trial planting of the blueberry plantation in 2024, the yield of blueberries has increased significantly. This year, the yield of blueberries is expected to reached 50 tons, and next year, it is hoped to reach 120 tons.

Currently, the blueberries from the plantation are mainly sold in places like Alar and Aksu in Xinjiang. In the future, they will be marketed nationwide. Ning Jibao, the general manager of the plantation, said that next year, the plantation plans to add 12 more greenhouses to expand its planting scale. He hopes that the plantation’s success will encourage more people to participate in blueberry planting and achieve common prosperity.

(Source: Guangming Daily; Reporters: Zhao Minghao, Jin Hao and Sun Jinhang; Correspondent Du Xinmin)