Cotton

From Bukhara on the Silk Road eastwards: no silk today, cotton instead. Along a completely straight road to Qarshi irrigation channels in disrepair from Soviet times and abandonded fields, where thick salt crusts don't allow for any agriculture. Still cotton is grown and processed in the area. Lorries full with the soft and fluffy stuff that is around everywhere and can be used for free to clean bicycles or your -
Antiquated cotton processing plants are apparently looking for investors...

Salinization resulting from grand scale cotton irrigation

GPS track and photos between Samarqand and Mubarek: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=25337