Next to Zhou's buckwheat farm is the experimental field of aerobic rice planted by Zhu Zuofeng, professor of the China Agricultural University. Aerobic rice, also known as upland rice, has been turned into a commercial crop that can be planted in desert. Consequently, it has the potential to help solve food shortages in places with parched climates.

Although producing less yields than lowland rice, the aerobic rice in Zhu's field offers the chance to grow rice using less water.