At a high-altitude barley planting base in Bailang County, Shigatse City, Tibet, 30 plateau-specific tractors are currently engaged in seeding operations. Developed specifically for high-altitude environments, these tractors can operate stably at altitudes above 4,500 meters, addressing the challenges of traditional tractors' lack of power and difficulty starting on the plateau, thus filling a technological gap in the development of agricultural mechanization in Tibet.
With an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, the oxygen content in the air in Tibet is only 60% of that in plains. Due to insufficient engine air intake, traditional tractors experience a 30%-40% drop in power, and their success rate in low-temperature environments is less than 50%. To adapt the tractors to the demands of plateau operations, the R&D team implemented several targeted modifications: a turbocharged engine increases intake pressure to compensate for the oxygen deficiency, restoring power to 90% of the plains level; a low-temperature preheating system enables one-touch starting at -15°C; and optimized track grip to suit Tibet's mountainous and rocky terrain.
In Gadong Town, Bailang County, farmer Phub Tsering used a highland tractor to sow barley for the first time. "My previous tractor was sluggish in the fields, with inconsistent sowing depths and even problems starting in frost. Now, this tractor climbs steep slopes effortlessly and sows evenly. We're sure to have a good barley harvest this year," he said. Local barley cultivation covers over 100,000 mu (approximately 16,000 hectares). The widespread use of highland tractors will shorten the sowing cycle from 20 days to 10.
According to officials from the Tibet Autonomous Region Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the first batch of 500 highland-specific tractors has been distributed to seven prefecture-level cities, including Shigatse, Shannan, and Lhasa, covering areas where major crops such as barley and rapeseed are grown. Next, they will collaborate with research institutions to develop supporting agricultural implements for highland farming, such as barley harvesters and fertilizer spreaders, to comprehensively improve the level of agricultural mechanization in Tibet.
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