Chinese scientists recognised for water-saving irrigation technology

It allows farmers in arid areas to cut water use by 25 per cent and boost output for crops like cotton by nearly 20 per cent compared to other systems

Mathematical model can simulate and predict movement of salt and water in different types of soil, helping growers to plan better in hot, dry zones

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One of the team’s experimental stations at a cotton farm in Xinier, in the far western Xinjiang region. Photo: ICID

Published: 5:00am, 21 Sep 2019Updated: 10:36pm, 21 Sep 2019

A new irrigation technology developed by Chinese scientists that can cut farmers’ water use by a quarter in arid areas has won an international conservation award.

Tian Fuqiang, an associate professor who heads the research team at Tsinghua University, was recognised for his contribution to the development and mass application of a water and salt regulation technology for mulching and drip irrigation in China’s far western region of Xinjiang.

He was presented with the WatSave Technology Award in Bali, Indonesia on September 4. The award from the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) is presented to the best new water-saving technology every year.

Gao Lihui, administrative director of the ICID’s Chinese National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage in Beijing, said the award was significant recognition of the research team’s technological achievement in the area of water conservation.

“They faced fierce competition from the candidates from other countries [in the running for the prize],” Gao said on Tuesday. “But the bigger challenge now is to promote this technology around the world.”

Tian Fuqiang was recognised for his contribution to the development and mass application of a water and salt regulation technology for mulching and drip irrigation. Photo: Thuwater