Xinjiang Province: Desert Turns into Rows of Energy-Efficient Greenhouse

Rows of hydroponic celery are lush and green, each pumpkin vine climbs up the rope, and each pot of fig tree is thriving.

The greenhouse adopts a multi-layer insulation structure. Compared with the traditional single-layer greenhouse, it can raise the indoor temperature by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius in winter, as if giving the crops a warm winter coat.

In 2019, China built over a thousand highly efficient and energy-saving greenhouses in the desert. These greenhouses employ soilless cultivation technology, and are equipped with a variety of advanced technologies such as automatic sprinkler systems for water and fertilizer, one-button adjustable sunshades, and temperature and humidity sensors. Compared to traditional greenhouses, their advantages are fully evident.

Where do the advantages of these highly efficient and energy-saving multi-span solar greenhouses suitable for the Gobi Desert lie?
The reporter introduced that the multi-layer composite insulation desert multi-span greenhouse adopts a five-layer insulation structure, which consists of shading nets, transparent films, heat storage membranes with louvers, insulation blankets, and transparent plastic films. It can achieve functions such as cooling in summer, blocking sandstorms, and heat storage. The greenhouse is connected to an external meteorological station, which can monitor air temperature, humidity and solar radiation data. By opening ventilation ports and switching insulation blankets, etc., it can better regulate the internal environment system of the greenhouse. In addition, it is more suitable for mechanized operation, with a construction cost of 25% of that of glass greenhouses. Energy consumption is reduced by 70%, and the land utilization rate can reach over 90%.
At present, these highly energy-efficient multi-span solar greenhouses have been used to cultivate various fruits and vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, hydroponic celery, eggplants, peppers, and watermelons. The cultivation methods for each type of crop are different.
Xinjiang Province has a vast territory and abundant heat and light resources, which gives it unique advantages for developing facility agriculture. The reporter said that promoting this low-cost multi-span solar greenhouse can provide a good growing environment for local fruits and vegetables during the wintering period and play a leading and exemplary role.