Updated: December 4, 2023
2023 Chongqing “Most Outstanding Eco-environmentalist” Award Ceremony. [Photo/Visual Chongqing/Zhang Jinhui]
On December 3, 2023, Professor Yi Zhijian attended the award ceremony for Chongqing’s “Most Outstanding Eco-environmentalist.” Following the event, he planned to lead his research team back to the experimental site in Inner Mongolia to continue their new round of research. As the team leader, Professor Yi shared his experiences in transforming desert into oasis.
“The conventional research on desertification control focuses on sand fixation, but does not change the mechanical-ecological characteristics of the sand, so it is difficult to fundamentally tackle desertification using conventional techniques.” Professor Yi introduced that as early as 2008, he defined the scientific problem of “mechanics of particle matter constraint” and the basic concept of “desert soilization”. Since then, he had begun to set up an interdisciplinary research team to carry out research and experiment. “Once we had a research direction, we started to work on it from a theoretical perspective day by day.”
Professor Yi Zhijian from CQJTU. [Photo/Visual Chongqing/Zhang Jinhui]
Since 2009, Professor Yi Zhijian has led his team in conducting in-depth theoretical research and both indoor and outdoor experiments, yielding a wealth of original verification results and data. In 2012, they successfully developed a comprehensive theoretical framework and method for desert soilization. Over the next three years, the team began planting experiments on “soilized sand” land in Chongqing, which mimicked natural desert conditions. They developed a carboxymethyl cellulosic material and completed its performance characterization research. Inspection results from national authorities confirmed that the material is environmentally friendly.
After completing the preliminary preparations, the team began conducting field verification tests, pilot tests, and industrialization trials of desert soilization technology in various deserts around the world in 2016.
Professor Yi decided to lead the team to the desert to conduct field experiment after 7 years of dedicated research. He contacted a leader of the Inner Mongolia Alxa League. Hearing that a scientific research team is coming to conduct research, the local leader was primarily confused and said, “Do you want us to provide funding or project to you?”
“Neither funding nor projects, just permission to plant on barren land here would be more than enough!” Yi Zhijian’s unexpected request first stunned the person in charge, then moved him to pledge full support.
The Research Team from CQJTU. [Photo/Visual Chongqing/Zhang Jinhui]
Deserts, characterized by prolonged drought and extreme heat, present harsh environmental conditions that are inhospitable to humans. Upon entering a desert, one’s eyes, nose, and mouth can quickly become filled with sand. The scorching sun and intense UV radiation can cause severe skin damage in just a few hours, while the dry air often leads to sudden nosebleeds.
Zhao Chaohua, Li Ya, and some key team members were dedicated to working in the desert year-round, rarely taking breaks. The extreme environment had caused visible damage to their health. However, they had always focused on the field experiment, with unwavering faith in ecological restoration. All of them believed that they must use desert soilization technology to make the desert covered with green, and then plants flourished!
“Our persistence and commitment have paid off,” said Peng Kai, a team leader. He noted that the team had successively obtained 18 authorized invention patents in China and 8 abroad. The technology and its applications earned the Earthshot Prize and the first prize for Innovation Achievement from the China Association for the Promotion of Industry-University-Research Cooperation. “This is, by far, the most effective, safe, and environmentally friendly technology—water-saving and capable of truly transforming sand into soil, rapidly turning desertified land into large-scale oases.” Peng Kai emphasized.
Yi Zhijian said that China has 1.73 million square kilometers of desertified land, of which only 1% with “desert soilization” technology transformation, will get 26 million acres of arable land. He emphasized that the technology holds significant strategic significance for China’s efforts in desertification control, ecological civilization, green development, rural revitalization, food security, land use, carbon sequestration, and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Nowadays, the “desert soilization” technology has been applied to over 30,000 mu (approximately 2,000 hectares) of land across various landforms, both domestically and internationally, yielding promising results in desertification control.
