Storyline: China harvests first desert-grown oats [Voice_over] On the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, the largest in China, the first batch of oats ever to be grown on the arid land is being harvested. About 133 hectares of green oat fields were planted in large round patterns in April of this year. To enhance soil quality and fertilize the fields, relay cropping was deployed, in which another crop is planted in-between the oat crops. In this case, alfalfa. [Sound_bite] Xu Zhaoyang, technical consultant, oat planting base: "Why do we cultivate alfalfa in the desert? Because it improves soil quality and is well-suited for sandy land due to its well-developed root system. Alfalfa can conserve water, prevent wind, fix drifting sand, and enriches the soil." [Voice_over] Alfalfa is a drought-resistant and high-quality forage grass. It can be harvested three to four times a year. Relay cropping of oats and alfalfa increases land utilization, boosts yields, and benefits the environment. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]