'Three-grassland' model heals Qinghai ecosystems

Crop production is restricted in core protected areas, but livestock in surrounding pastoral communities still need feed. Developing cultivated grassland and forage oat production in more suitable areas can supply pastoral regions and reduce pressure on natural pastures.

Shen's team has spent nearly 30 years breeding crops and forage suited to plateau conditions ranging from 3,500 to 4,800 meters above sea level. Its work began with spring wheat and later expanded to highland barley, oats and other forage crops.

The result has been that Qinghai has become an important national base for forage production and oat seed breeding, supplying improved varieties to regions including the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Gansu and Sichuan provinces, and the Xizang autonomous region.

One standout success is Gaoyan 16, a high-protein forage oat variety that recently fetched a record 400,000-yuan ($59,400) technology transfer fee in Qinghai.

In nearby Darlag county of Golog Tibetan autonomous prefecture, improved oat varieties have been used in a practice called "growing grass in livestock pens".

Before moving animals to high summer pastures, herders plant fast-growing oat varieties directly in winter pens. Come autumn, they harvest the crop for cold-weather emergency feed.

The area using the practice in Darlag expanded from more than 133 hectares last year to more than 667 hectares this year. The model is also being promoted in other parts of Golog and Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefectures.

For Shen, keeping the technology affordable for local families remains the primary goal. Locally bred oat seed costs less than 4 yuan per kilogram, compared to 10 to 16 yuan for imported alternatives.

He recalled an experience during a scientific expedition in Gyalze county, Xizang, when local farmers invited his team into their home for butter tea and food after learning that the researchers were conducting fieldwork to improve crop varieties.

"They said we were doing work for farmers," Shen said. "Wherever we go, recognition from farmers and herders is what keeps us moving forward.

"Enterprises can make a profit, but they should not charge too much," Shen said. "Farming already has thin margins. If seed costs are too high, the burden on farmers and herders becomes heavy. A good variety must go to the fields and reach the people. If it can help them increase production and income, that is the greatest recognition a researcher can receive."