Reeds have a new use

Not long ago, the reporter came to the 850,000-kilowatt photovoltaic + ecological governance project area in Dengkou County, Bayannur City, and saw workers cutting reeds into segments (each segment is 60 cm long) and then pressing the reed segments into the sand with a shovel. The formation of grass grids shows that reeds have a new use.

"We are now conducting a test of reed sand barriers. If the effect is good, it will not only save costs, but also be promoted on a large scale." Zheng Qian, deputy general manager of Dengkou County Mengsheng Ecological Co., Ltd., introduced, "At present, the raw materials for pressing grass grids are mostly straw, all purchased from other places, and each ton of straw is nearly 1,000 yuan, which is relatively expensive."

It is understood that reeds are a perennial aquatic or wetland tall grass that grows beside irrigation ditches, riverbank swamps, etc. Reed leaves, reed flowers, reed stems, reed roots, and asparagus can all be used as medicines. Reed stems and reed roots can also be used in the papermaking industry and biological preparations. Processed reed stems can also be made into handicrafts. At present, Bayannur City has developed reeds into formaldehyde-free ecological reed fluff boards, reed paintings and other products. Dengkou County used reeds to suppress grass grids for the first time, allowing reeds to play a new role again.

"Dengkou County is known as the 'hometown of a hundred lakes'. There are many wetlands and lakes in the jurisdiction, and the rich light, heat, water and soil resources make aquatic reeds have unique growth conditions. Compared with terrestrial reeds, aquatic reeds have higher fiber content, better toughness, and are more resistant to the harsh environment in the desert. But the reeds used to make grass grids cannot be too 'fat' or too 'thin', otherwise they will either break easily when taking root in the desert or cannot withstand the wind and sand." Zheng Qian said.

Up to now, Dengkou County has explored the use of reeds to suppress grass grids and has completed an experimental area of 4 mu. In the future, it will continue to carry out follow-up monitoring and comprehensively compare the effect and cost of rice straw sand suppression. If it is suitable for controlling the Ulan Buh Desert, it will be promoted on a large scale to promote the realization of "Dengkou materials for Dengkou" and "Mongolian materials for Mongolia", and contribute Dengkou's strength to the "Three Norths" project's "Ji Zi Bend" battle of the Yellow River.