For people living in high-altitude pastoral areas, access to fresh vegetables has long been constrained by harsh natural conditions, with limited varieties available throughout the year. For nearly two decades, Wang Zhonghong, a professor at Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, has been working to change that.
Inside a courtyard greenhouse on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Wang climbed up and down a small ladder, pointing out the different crops growing at each level.
"The top layer gets the strongest sunlight and the highest temperatures, so we grow watermelons, eggplants and chili peppers on it," he said. "The middle layer is cooler and less sunny, which suits radishes, cabbage and cauliflower. The bottom layer has the weakest light and lowest temperature, so it's ideal for spinach, lettuce and chives."
This multi-layer planting system is part of Wang's long-term research on high-altitude courtyard greenhouses, a facility he has spent years refining. His goal is simple but ambitious: to make it possible for farmers and herders in high-altitude regions to enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the year.
Read more at People's Daily Online
