Though the crops planted in the area so far have mainly been used for experiments rather than as materials for cigarettes, regular cultivation of tobacco has contributed to poverty alleviation in remote areas, Li Yiqiang said.

Tobacco cultivation on saline-alkaline land will not only use the land efficiently, but also produce tobacco without occupying arable land used for grain production. Pests are the biggest enemy of tobacco leaves growing on the soil, so prevention and control is one of the biggest challenges faced by agronomists.

"Profusely growing weeds on saline-alkaline soil provide pests with a good habitat and may trigger outbreaks. We have to check the tobacco leaves frequently and treat the pest bites and other wounds in time," Li Yiqiang said. He added that a regular task is to ensure that the lure lamps used to control pests are not blown away by strong winds on the saline-alkaline land.

"Currently, the multifunctional tobaccos we have tested on the saline-alkaline soil in the demonstration area are growing well, so they will be harvested and cured. Evaluations of different tobacco leaves will follow," he noted.

Contact the writer at zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn