Innovative water practices are reshaping farming in Shaanxi

Innovative water-saving agricultural practices are reshaping farming techniques in Yulin, Shaanxi province.

By integrating a water-saving ethos into the entire production process, the region is boosting agricultural yields through technological innovation and exploration, forging a distinctive path toward dryland water-efficient agriculture on the Loess Plateau.

Gaoxigou village, once plagued by severe water scarcity in the hilly and ravine-filled region of Mizhi county, has undergone a remarkable transformation with the adoption of the "four-in-one" dryland agricultural water-saving project.

This comprehensive initiative includes the construction of ravine embankments, water pumping equipment powered by photovoltaic energy, specialized cellars, and a field irrigation pipeline network, seamlessly blending rainwater harvesting techniques with integrated dryland farming technologies.

Through the utilization of solar power, water stored in embankments is pumped to elevated cellars, doubling as rainwater collectors, facilitating drip irrigation for crops such as millet and apples across 122 hectares.

"By promoting the project in local dryland areas, constructing rainwater collection cellars, and effectively utilizing water from the sky and ravine embankments, we ensure timely irrigation, significantly boosting crop yields," said Li Rui, director of the agriculture and rural affairs bureau of Mizhi.

This initiative has effectively tackled the longstanding challenge of irrigation water scarcity in Gaoxigou, resulting in a substantial increase in crop production. Annually, the project saves 75,000 tons of irrigation water, reduces labor by 30 percent, and elevates income by 1.69 million yuan ($232,500).

Tailored strategies are being implemented to enhance agricultural development in the water-scarce region of Yulin.

In Dajihan village, situated in the Yuyang district of Yulin, a large-scale drip irrigation system with intelligent management has been adopted due to its flat terrain. Leveraging advanced water-saving equipment, the village has implemented a sophisticated irrigation system that precisely filters and delivers water and nutrients to crop roots.

Jiang Hong, deputy director of the agricultural and rural affairs bureau of Yuyang district, highlighted the cutting-edge nature of the technology, emphasizing its efficiency in filtering underground sandy water, delivering filtered water and fertilizer precisely through drip irrigation.

This intelligent water-fertilizer integrated drip irrigation technology has propelled the village to become a leading modern water-saving farm, covering 4,200 mu (280 hectares).

This project saves about 30 percent of water annually compared to previous practices, achieves fertilizer and electricity savings of over 20 percent, boosts crop yields by over 15 percent per unit of land, and increases income by 1.68 million yuan each year, as detailed by Wang Hui, director of the agricultural and water conservancy comprehensive development center of Yuyang district.