With a sharp sound "beep," the electric ball valves at Huier Smart Farm in Xinjiang Changji National Agricultural Hi-tech Industry Demonstration Zone activates. Farm operators can now control irrigation systems remotely using just their smartphones. Meanwhile, at a tomato processing plantation 100 kilometers away, conveyor belts continuously transport tomato seedlings, which are precisely transplanted into fields by robotic arms when they reach ground level.

These smart farming practices have become standard across Xinjiang's vast agricultural regions. In recent years, the region has made significant progress in agricultural mechanization, achieving 97 percent mechanization in cotton production and over 98 percent for processing tomatoes. Digital technologies have enabled widespread adoption of smart farming systems, with integrated water-fertilizer technology delivering substantial water conservation and yield improvement.

The spring cotton planting season has now concluded across Xinjiang, with cotton seedlings emerging from the soil and beginning their growth phase.

As one of China's key production areas for premium cotton varieties, Yuli County has made substantial progress this year in developing high-standard farmland. By consolidating previously fragmented and uneven plots into large, uniform fields, the county has created ideal conditions for mechanized farming operations.

This year, Zhongwang Cotton Planting Cooperative in Yuli County introduced three high-powered, self-driving cotton planters equipped with the BeiDou navigation system. Guo Shixue, the cooperative's technology director, noted that while five workers used to laboriously sow about 1.3 hectares of land per day, a single tractor can now plant eight hectares daily with precision within two centimeters.

The shift to mechanization extends beyond cotton. At tomato fields, automated transplanters have replaced manual planting. In Bajiadi Village, Santai Town, Jimsar County, farmer Ji Xiaoqiong operates five transplanters simultaneously in her tomato fields. These machines seamlessly execute trenching, seedling placement, and soil covering, ensuring each plant is positioned accurately.

Ji Xiaoqiong shared that her family now grows eight hectares of ordered tomatoes entirely through mechanized transplanting. Manual planting previously maxed out at two mu per worker daily, whereas a single transplanter now handles 2.66-3.33 hectares of land while maintaining exact spacing and depth control.

Xinjiang has achieved near-total mechanization in cotton and processing tomato production, driven by advancements in domestic farm equipment. A locally developed tomato harvester, launched last year, harvests 80 tons per hour and solves plastic mulch clogging issues, which is a common problem in Xinjiang's fields. With performance rivaling international models, this innovation has reduced reliance on imported machinery.

On May 8, 2025, Huier Smart Farm was installing IoT devices including soil sensors, weather stations, and pest monitors. Once complete, the farm's integrated monitoring system will provide real-time crop and field data analytics, enabling predictive alerts for growth issues, pests, and environmental shifts.

"In the past, farming relied on experience; now it depends on big data," said Sun Yuntao, data director of Xinjiang Huier Zhilian Technology Co., Ltd.

Sun explained how traditional manual fertilization wastes time and labor while causing uneven nutrient distribution, low fertilizer efficiency and packaging waste pollution. Huier's solution integrates liquid fertilizer with automated applicators and electric valves, allowing farmers to manage irrigation and fertilization remotely via smartphone.

This system conserves about 40 cubic meters of water per mu (one mu equals about 0.067 hectares) while improving fertilizer efficiency by 30 percent and significantly increasing crop yields.

At the Manas Digital Agriculture Control Center, technicians monitor field conditions and cotton growth using a specialized platform. This allows them to keep track of important factors like soil moisture, temperature, and light in real time.

The national innovation base covers 800 hectares and uses smart farming technologies to enhance precision agriculture practices. These innovations have increased cotton productivity by more than 10 percent through optimized planting, fertilization and irrigation.

Guided by intelligent systems and automation, Xinjiang's spring planting season promises abundant harvests.

(Source: Science and Technology Daily, Reporter: Liang Le)