Xinjiang sets wheat yield records in China

URUMQI, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Amid the summer grain harvest progressing in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one of the country's major grain barns, the region has set yield records for wheat in the country.

According to assessments certified by an expert panel sent by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the per-mu (about 0.067 hectares) yield of winter wheat on three large fields measuring 500 mu, 1,200 mu and 10,490 mu in Xinjiang all broke national records.

A record yield of 795.8 kg per mu was achieved in a 500-mu wheat field in Huocheng County, which shares similar meteorological and soil conditions with Provence in France due to their similar latitudes.

"We chose the wheat variety 'Shidong 0358' for planting, adopted water-efficient irrigation techniques, and used foliar fertilizer to boost plant growth," said You Chengyong, of the agricultural service station in Huocheng, noting that currently, Xinjiang has completed 70 percent of its summer grain harvest.

"The increase in per-unit wheat yield is one aspect demonstrating the comprehensive improvement of grain production in Xinjiang," said Tang Yiwu, an official of the regional agriculture and rural affairs department, adding the high yields previously achieved in experimental fields have now been realized across large swathes of wheat fields in the region.