A major special project, using biotechnology to save water in irrigation, organized by China Ministry of Science and Technology for implementation, has achieved substantial progresses. The effort has led to the establishment of an indicator system for assessing crop drought resistance in the breeding period, and associated techniques. The new system has rolled out new crops species having an enhanced water utilization by 16%-26%, with an increased yield by 20%.

Using incomplete irrigation theory as guidance, and an automatic system with a 3-D GPS laser information collection device, the project developed a modern fine-tuned ground irrigation system, and an incomplete irrigation technology system. The new systems increase irrigation water efficiency by 15%-30%, with a crop moisture productivity reaching 2kg/m³.

The project also resulted in a new theory for collecting precipitation biologically. The new theory produced new materials for soil-based rain collecting, claiming a stream collecting efficiency around 70%-80%. With a cost of RMB 3-4/m², the new technique shortens the time for constructing a stream-collecting surface from 3 years under natural conditions to 30 days.

Researchers developed a fast R&D platform for water efficient micro-irrigation products, the first of its kind in the world, which shortens the cyclic development of a micro-irrigation product from 90-150 days to current 3-5 days, with a reduced cost from RMB 30,000-50,000 to current RMB 2000. The finding has been honored with first prize under a technical invention award sponsored by the Ministry of Education.