Technical system of rational land use and deserticulture in desert oasis — A case study of Minqin Oasis

Investigation and evaluation of soil and water resources in Minqin Oasis indicate that the proportion of grain crop, cash crop and grass is 36.94∶45.16∶17.90 for 2005. And a comparison with that for 1991 indicates that land use structure is developing towards rational proportion of grain crop, cash crop and grass; and harmony among agriculture, stockbreeding and forest. The main limiting factors of land resources are water, soil quality, salinity and fertility, and there is about 3.921 8 × 10⁸m³water deficit per year in Minqin Oasis. Based on the natural conditions and deserticulture theory, some high quality, watersaving and droughtresistant plant species and varieties are introduced in Minqin Oasis. These include four alfalfa species of “Zhongmu No.1”, “Ranger Lander”, “Barlfa54” and “Derby”;and Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Ephedra intermedia and Allium mongolicum. The development aim of land use and deserticulture in Minqin Oasis are advanced as: watersaving agriculture and ecological industry to improve utilization of soil, water and light, which in turn involves rational intercropping of forest-grass and forest-herb medicinal plants, grass-crop ration; cultivation and development of alfalfa,G. uralensis, E. intermedia, grape, potato, cotton and home-breed sheep. Implementation of the above measures benefits technological establishment of deserticulture including soil/environment system, plant species/variety system, watersaving cultivation and industrialization system, and insures proportion of grain crop, cash crop and grass on 1∶1∶1 basis and furthers sustainable development of ecological deserticulture.