Source of the research subject: The research subject was entrusted and supported by Tarim Branch, PetroChina Company Limited.

　　Study period: From November 2001 to November 2004.

　　Award: The research subject won a Second Award of Scientific and Technological Progress of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in 2004.

　　Main accomplishing scientist: 8 Zhou Zhibin

　　Brief introduction of the research subject

　　The research subject was based on considering the urgently resolved key technical issues relating to construction of the Tarim Desert Highway and the green corridor, revealing the formation mechanism of wind-blown sand, developing the rational techniques of preventing and controlling wind-blown sand disasters, selecting the adaptable plant species and researching the growing technique under different habitat conditions, carrying out the technique of pumping groundwater with solar energy for irrigating the afforested shelterbelts along the Tarim Desert Highway in desert hinterland, researching the sustainability of the shelterbelts along the desert highway, etc. Some new progresses and new knowledge were achieved from 10 aspects, such as the formation process of wind-blown sand disasters along the highway, structural optimization of mechanical wind-blown sand prevention system, classification of the habitat conditions for the green corridor construction, selection of the plant species with high converse-succession resistance, afforestation irrigated with saline groundwater with multiple-gradient salinity, groundwater pumping with solar energy for irrigating the shelterbelts, artificial inoculation of Cistanche salsa in desert hinterland, carrying capacity of groundwater, stability of biological wind-blown sand prevention system, and technical system of green corridor construction. The projects of the experimental and demonstration green corridor of 31 km in length along the desert highway, Tazhong Eremophyte Garden of 100 mu (6.67 ha.), experimental field of irrigation with saline groundwater pumped with solar energy, experimental field of afforestation irrigated with limited water, observation filed of wind-blown sand, experimental field of structure-optimized mechanical wind-blown sand prevention system, etc., were built. The book of “Technical Regulations of Shelterbelt Ecological Project Construction along the Tarim Desert Highway” was compiled, 37 plant species with high converse-succession resistance were selected for the afforestation of preventing wind-blown sand disasters, and the key supporting techniques of wind-blown sand prevention and control and green corridor construction in the desert were developed.