Xinjiang expands test of saline soil rice near desert

The saline soil rice R&D team of Yuan Longping work in a test field in Baiyiawati of Yopurga County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 3, 2019. The saline soil rice R&D team of Yuan Longping, the prestigious pioneer of hybrid rice, is expanding its planting scale on the western margin of the Taklimakan desert in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The area of the test field, in the township of Baiyiawati, Yopurga County under Kashgar, has been expanded to 20 hectares this year from last year's 5.3 hectares, according to Cao Zhishun who leads the Xinjiang team. (Xinhua/Ekber Erkin)