Chinese scientists have managed to grow fast-growing rice in greenhouses located in a desert area of the Asian country. The milestone, which has been achieved for the first time, represents progress in guaranteeing harvests in this type of ecosystem, according to local media reports this Tuesday.
The crops of this cereal, basic in Asian cuisine, were located in the autonomous region of Xinjiang (northwest) and had a growth period of 75 days from planting to harvest, according to the official newspaper Global Times.
To achieve rapid growth in greenhouses, light control techniques and vertical crops were used to accelerate the plant's growth cycle by 40% compared to those grown traditionally.
Another advantage of growing in a desert area, according to the authors of the research, is the cost savings by taking advantage of the natural light and solar hours of the desert.
This advance, fundamental for these scientists, required five years of research by the Institute of Urban Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
This technique could be applied with other products, according to Wang Sen, a member of the scientific team. In statements reported by this media, the specialist explains that the research also extends to the search for technologies to achieve the rapid cultivation of other species such as soybeans, corn and wheat, all of which are essential for China's food security.
The Institute of Urban Agriculture had already made headlines with other cutting-edge developments such as the construction of the world's tallest autonomous greenhouse, a ten-meter vertical growing facility that began operating last December in the central province of Sichuan.
