Apocynum venetum seedlings bring win-win ecological and economic gains to Taklimakan Desert

The present period is the optimal time for transplanting apocynum venetum seedlings in desert areas. Yuli County has made the cultivation of apocynum venetum an important means of combating desertification and promoting green development, deeply integrating ecological restoration, industrial development, and rural revitalization. By expanding and strengthening this distinctive apocynum venetum industry, the county has reached a win-win goal that combines ecological sand fixation with industrial growth and higher incomes for local people.

Photo shows workers plant apocynum venetum in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shen Kailong)

On May 17, in the desertification-control area of Yuli County in the Taklimakan Desert, workers were busy erecting power grids, laying drip-irrigation pipelines, and transplanting apocynum venetum seedlings, presenting a dynamic scene of desert control and vegetation restoration. More than 100 workers seized the favorable climatic window to carry out standardized apocynum venetum planting operations.

Photo shows workers plant apocynum venetum in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shen Kailong)

Han Yan, a resident of Kunqi Village, Xingping Town, Yuli County, said, “By planting apocynum venetum, we can earn 50,000 to 60,000 yuan a year. Working near home not only allows us to earn money, but also enables us to take care of the elderly and children. It feels especially good.”

This year, Yuli County plans to add 20,000 mu (about 1,333.33 hectares) of apocynum venetum cultivation in the Taklimakan Desert. Land parcels with relatively flat terrain and small differences in dune elevation will be consolidated, with unified planning, contiguous development, and large-scale cultivation implemented.

Zhou Yunfeng, head of Xinjiang Zhichuang Kangnong Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., said, “To date, 3,000 mu(about 200 hectares) have been planted, and the remaining 2,600 mu(about 173.33 hectares) will be completed this year. In the planting area, we level sand mounds in accordance with the natural slope, and plant apocynum venetum and Haloxylon ammodendron according to the local topography, geomorphology, and water availability. By combining shrubs and grasses, we aim to prevent wind erosion and stabilize sand. These straw checkerboards help reduce wind erosion and fix sand, while the alternating high and low sand barriers reduce wind speed and protect vegetation.”

Apocynum venetum has natural advantages such as drought tolerance, saline-alkali tolerance, resistance to wind and sand, and strong adaptability, making it a high-quality native plant for windbreak and sand-fixation in desert environments. To ensure the survival rate after transplantation, all apocynum venetum seedlings are centrally cultivated in greenhouses, with full-process guidance from forestry and grassland authorities and professional technical support provided throughout.

Photo shows workers plant apocynum venetum in Yuli County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shen Kailong)

Niu Jianqiang, a senior engineer at the Yuli County Forestry Technology Extension Center, said, “Through the desertification-control campaigns of recent years, and after more than four years of cultivating apocynum venetum, we have developed a set of technical standards suitable for its cultivation in desert environments. The row spacing is about one meter, the plant spacing is 25 centimeters, and double-seedling planting is adopted. Drip irrigation is carried out one day before planting to ensure that each planting hole contains sufficient moisture. Plug seedlings are then placed into the pits and covered with two to three centimeters of loose surface soil, with intermittent drip irrigation applied to keep the soil moist. At present, we have collected 114 apocynum venetum varieties from across China, all of which are stress-resistant varieties suitable for windbreak and sand-fixation. Yuli County has already established two apocynum venetum seedling cultivation bases, comprising approximately 100 greenhouses. Each year, they can provide 300,000 trays, or 28 million apocynum venetum seedlings, to meet the demand for seedlings used in desertification prevention and sand stabilization.”

Apocynum venetum not only serves windbreak and sand-fixation functions but also has considerable economic value. Its leaves can be processed into tea, its flowers used for honey production, its stem bark processed into fiber, and its stalks made into boards. Relying on local resource advantages, the area has established apocynum venetum tea and honey processing plants as well as degumming facilities, introduced advanced production equipment, and implemented a key project for apocynum venetum lyocell fiber production. To further advance desertification control from “edge-locking and sand stabilization” toward “boundary expansion and vegetation enhancement,” Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture has established a scientific research and experimental base in Yuli County’s desertification-control area. It has also developed collaborative mechanisms with research institutions, universities, and leading enterprises, focusing on joint research into new varieties, materials, technologies, and models for desertification prevention and control. These efforts aim to accelerate the application and transformation of scientific research outcomes, extend the industrial chain, and increase local residents’ incomes.

(The Media Convergence Center of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Reporters: Yin Lin and Shen Kailong, Correspondent: Wang Zhipeng)