Recently, "Sand-fixation Technology of an Integration of Ion Beam Vegetation Improvement and New Materials" passed the appraisal by an expert team. This technology is a research topic of the 863 Program undertaken by the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The appraising team was made up of sand control experts from Grassland Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Inner Mongolia and members of the 863 special topic expert team. The appraisal concluded: A new technology to fix sand by the comprehensive integration of plants, microorganisms and ion beam improvement has evolved from the study of the compatibility of biological groups and their interaction with the environment, a study that has improved the micro-ecosystem of the rhizosphere of sand-binding plants by using such new materials as water-absorbing resin and rare earth.

This research topic studied the "micro-environment cultivation technology system" for licorice root and the "technology system of planting dryland willow and sand willow stems for thermal-radiation prevention and moisture-preserving cultivation", which has brought about the advanced technology system that can protect and promote the growth of plants in the desert. Two years of application test in Kubuqi Desert has proved that this technology can increase the plant survival rate of licorice root, dryland willow and sand willow trees. It is both reliable and practicable, very suitable for re-vegetation in the desert and sandy land. In a word, this research has put forward a new concept and new method for fixing and controlling sand. This technology is innovative in theory and has very good prospects in future application. So far there has been no document reporting this integrated technology system and this research is of advanced international standard.