Driven by his deep affection for land, Hu Shuwen, a professor at the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences of China Agricultural University, began to devote himself to in-depth research on saline-alkali land amelioration many years ago.
After more than a decade of research and development, his team has developed a comprehensive and systematic technological system for improving saline-alkali land, having ameliorated over 100,000 mu of severely saline alkalinized land, and improved over 1.6 million mu of saline-alkali lands with medium and low yield. Today, Hu’s approach is being promoted globally, demonstrating China’s wisdom and capability on global food issues and ecological governance.
An earlier media report when his innovation started attracting public attention noted that: “Hu joined CAU in 2006, returning from the University of California, Irvine, where he worked as a researcher. He said that he wanted to share his knowledge and do something for the motherland.
To solve the problem, one must figure out the cause of it, said Hu. So he promptly set about studying saline-alkali soil in the field.
During the study, he found that the particles of this kind of soil are so fine and closely attached that there is no room for water to permeate.
It’s just like the water-proof cloth, said Hu, so the salt cannot leach out and is left in the plough layer of soil.
With an academic background in polymer science, Hu applied advanced polymeric materials to soil improvement. He and his team invented a natural polymeric soil conditioner that improves soil structure.
The soil conditioner transforms the fine particles into clots, between which there are channels for rainfall to soak into the ground and leach out the salt through underground drainage.
Besides, the research team also invented a controlled-release material to protect seeds from salt damage. Organic fertilizer, and bacterial and fungal communities are applied to create a healthier soil environment. Supporting facilities are built near the fields to keep groundwater at a lower level, to prevent the reoccurrence of soil salinization. All these make up the systematic soil improvement technique, said Hu.”
BRNN
PHOTO: stdaily.com
