Drip Irrigation under Plastic Mulch Brings High-Yield Cotton to Saline Land

Photo shows photovoltaic modules of the "PV + Halophyte Garden" project in Muynak, Uzbekistan. (Provided by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Uzbekistan has been renowned for its cotton production for more than 2,000 years, earning the country the title of the Land of White Gold. Under traditional flood irrigation, however, water resources have become increasingly scarce while saline-alkali soils continue to expand — leaving even veteran cotton farmers concerned. In 2023, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) joined Uzbek partners to introduce new technologies such as medium- and high-density planting and seedling establishment techniques for saline soils to severely salinized land. Within just two years, good news arrived: seed cotton yields reached 303 kg per mu, while water consumption fell to just one-third of that required by traditional methods.

Key Challenges

Traditional flood irrigation has caused secondary soil salinization and severe water waste, while cotton yields remain relatively low. The application of modern cultivation technologies and the availability of specialized technical personnel are both limited, resulting in low production efficiency and insufficient momentum for coordinated development across the chain.

Solution Pathways

Technical teams from both countries combined drip irrigation under plastic mulch with water-fertilizer management and saline-alkali soil remediation technologies, effectively restoring productivity to degraded land. Through joint pilot and demonstration projects, seed cotton yields reached 5 tonnes per hectare. More importantly, the project prioritized local capacity building. A cotton seed production center and a water-saving technology center were established, while a cotton picker manufacturing facility was also put into operation. From breeding and irrigation to harvesting, the entire production chain now operates efficiently at the local level.

Practical Benefits for Local Communities

Land that was once difficult to cultivate is now covered with blossoming white cotton. The technologies have taken root locally, and a new generation of skilled professionals is emerging. Cotton farmers of Uzbekistan are revitalizing the Land of White Gold through their own efforts.

Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2020 shows people picking cotton in Syrdarya region, Uzbekistan. (Photo by Xinhua)