By Li Jiacheng, Staff Reporter

As winter approaches, XJ Cistanche Biotech has launched a large-scale winter maintenance program across 22,000 acres of Tamarix forests in Yutian County, Xinjiang. Workers are busy pruning lateral branches, loosening soil, and implementing precision irrigation - all to support the sustainable development of one of China's most promising desert-based herbal industries: Cistanche tubulosa cultivation.

Thanks to this thriving medicinal herb industry, Yutian County was recently recognized as a "National Model Town for Agricultural Industrial Development" in 2024.

 

 

 

Cistanche tubulosa In Sand

 

Cistanche Tubulosa: Turning Desert into a Medicinal Oasis

Located between the Taklamakan Desert and the Kumtag Desert, Yutian County once struggled with severe sandstorms and low land utilization. But in a forest of Tamarix trees planted to control desertification, something miraculous is happening beneath the surface.

"Spring used to bring nothing but worry. The wind would whip up sandstorms, and it was hard to even open your eyes," recalls Liang Yunjiang, a local community official. "Now, these Tamarix forests stand like a green wall, keeping the sand out - and hidden underneath are treasures growing in the sand."

He gently brushes away the sand to reveal a plump Cistanche tubulosa, also known as "Desert Ginseng."

Water scarcity and ecological fragility have long been bottlenecks in Yutian's development. But since 2022, XJ Cistanche Biotech has led an ecological-economic transformation by promoting large-scale planting of drought-tolerant Tamarix trees.

Through research collaborations with leading agricultural institutes, the company discovered that Cistanche tubulosa - a valuable herb with both nutritional and medicinal uses - naturally parasitizes on Tamarix roots. It requires no arable land and thrives in arid environments, making it the ideal crop for desert greening and economic upliftment.

Leveraging saline groundwater and ecological water from the Tarim River, XJ Cistanche Biotech developed a hybrid irrigation system combining drip and furrow irrigation, enabling large-scale inoculation and cultivation of Cistanche under Tamarix forests.

"Inoculation is a delicate technique. You need the right depth, moisture, and fungal strain ratio," says Liu Zeyuan, a veteran technician. "We've failed before, but through experimentation and expert guidance, our success rate has continued to rise."

Over the past three years, formerly barren salt-affected lands have been transformed into high-efficiency underground herb gardens. To date, over 12,500 acres have been inoculated with Cistanche tubulosa, which is now recognized for its superior quality and high concentrations of bioactive compounds. In 2023, it was listed in the National Specialty Agricultural Products Catalog, significantly boosting its brand recognition.

According to Liu, the economic benefits are substantial:

"You begin inoculating two years after planting Tamarix. By the third year, yields stabilize at 100–120 kg of fresh Cistanche per acre. At current market prices, net profit per acre is around 1,000 RMB."

Cistanche tubulosa Farmer

pic from wecistanche,Copyright infringement will be prosecuted.

 

Intercropping with Medicinal Herbs: Maximizing Land Value

While the ecological barrier was taking root, another challenge emerged: how to maximize returns from existing farmland. Yutian boasts tens of thousands of acres of jujube orchards. However, due to market fluctuations, relying solely on red dates proved insufficient for boosting farmers' incomes.

In response, XJ Cistanche Biotech pioneered a jujube-medicinal herb intercropping model, scientifically integrating compatible herbs between rows of jujube trees - effectively doubling the value of the land.

On September 10, a 2,900-acre demonstration plot was bursting with life. Rows of jujube trees stretched across the field, while Trichosanthes kirilowii (gua lou) vines intertwined with support trellises between them. Bright green fruits peeked through the leaves, forming a picturesque contrast with the ripening red dates.

"Back when we only grew jujubes, a good harvest might bring in 3,000 RMB per acre. Now, with gua lou intercropped, we expect over 1 ton of fresh fruit per acre, plus 500 kg of root tubers. Gua lou alone can bring in 5,000 RMB per acre - and that's excluding the jujube income," says grower Yang Fangcui.

To ensure compatibility, the company conducted field trials and expert consultations before selecting herbs like licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), scutellaria (Scutellaria baicalensis), bupleurum, and gua lou - all shallow-rooted, shade-tolerant species that don't compete with jujube trees.

In nearby orchards, Belamcanda chinensis (she gan) was also successfully intercropped. "It's compact, complements jujube roots, and has stable market demand," explains Qijiang Shuo, deputy field supervisor.

"With she gan, we're seeing annual income of over 8,000 RMB per acre, more than double the earnings from jujubes alone."

The innovation doesn't stop there. XJ Cistanche Biotech has also scaled up planting of Isatis root (Banlangen) on 500 acres using a high-efficiency model:

1.25m plastic mulch rows

6-row precision seeding

dual drip irrigation for water and fertilizer

This method yields over 400 kg per acre, with total production exceeding 200 tons - offering excellent economic returns.

To date, over 13,000 acres of land have adopted the "jujube + herb" intercropping system, generating average income increases of 7,900 RMB per acre - turning once single-use orchards into multi-yield green treasuries.

Cistanche tubulosa Farmer

pic from wecistanche,Copyright infringement will be prosecuted.

 

Government-Enterprise Synergy: Ensuring Long-Term Success

The sustainable development of medicinal herb industries hinges on a robust support ecosystem covering planting, harvesting, processing, and sales. XJ Cistanche Biotech follows a proven "enterprise + technology + base" model, aligned with government guidance and farmer participation.

To build trust, the company has partnered with high-reputation herb processing firms that provide premium seedlings, on-site training, and frequent field visits.

"Technicians guide us through everything - when and how to fertilize, pest control methods that preserve herb quality. They're always there," says farmer Chen Qiao.

"With technical support and guaranteed sale prices, we feel secure and confident to expand."

Indeed, companies sign guaranteed-price contracts, ensuring full purchase of qualified herbs regardless of market fluctuations - eliminating growers' worries about unsold inventory.

To further increase value-added potential, XJ Cistanche Biotech has built initial processing plants capable of cleaning, slicing, and drying Cistanche tubulosa, as well as sorting and packaging Banlangen. This has significantly enhanced product competitiveness.

The company also leverages Yutian's strategic location to integrate logistics and open distribution channels, ensuring these "golden treasures of the desert" reach major Chinese herbal medicine markets quickly and cost-effectively.

In 2024, the total output value of medicinal herb production in Yutian County reached 94.93 million RMB. Moving forward, XJ Cistanche Biotech aims to introduce more climate-adapted medicinal plant species, optimize planting structures, and build a fully integrated, standardized production–processing–branding system.

Cistanche tubulosa Base

pic from wecistanche,Copyright infringement will be prosecuted.

 

Conclusion: A Model for Desert Agriculture

Today, in the heart of the desert, Cistanche tubulosa, Belamcanda, and Isatis root are flourishing. What was once barren wasteland is now a thriving ecosystem - combining sand control, ecological restoration, and economic prosperity.

XJ Cistanche Biotech has carved out a sustainable path where ecology and economy coexist, and where industry and livelihoods grow hand in hand - a model of success for desert regions across China and beyond.

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