Chinese scientists turn sand into fertile soil

[django]

Chinese scientists turn sand into fertile soil

GBTIMES

2016/09/05


Desert land in Inner Mongolia, part of which has been converted from sand into soil by Chinese researchers. (Photo: Svdmolen/Wikimedia Creative Commons)


Chinese scientists have announced that they have successfully converted sand into fertile soil using a new method they believe could be used to reverse the effects of desertification.

The team, based in Chongqing Jiaotong University, have reportedly created a paste which, when added to sand, allows it to retain water, nutrients and air, China News Service reports.

The method has already been used to transform a 1.6-hectare plot of land in Ulan Buh Desert in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from desert to fertile land, harbouring rice, corn, tomatoes, watermelon and sunflowers.

According to the research team, which has been working on the project since 2013, the method costs between 22,500 yuan and 40,500 yuan (US$3,373 to US$6,071) per hectare.

Desertification is a growing problem in China, one which has hampered development in the country's northwestern regions.

A report last month by Sixth Tone claimed that Hongjian Nur, a lake which acts as a bird haven in Shaanxi Province, would likely dry up within the next decade.

http://gbtimes.com/china/chinese-scientists-turn-sand-fertile-soil

Amazing, hopefully the entire world can benefit from the genius of our Chinese friends.

 

[cirr]

Very promising, especially when the cost per hectare is brought down further.

How durable is the "paste"? Does it have to be re-applied every season? Can harvests be processed normally or is special care needed? All these questions will have to be addressed so farming isn't just possible in theory but in practice as well.

Nearly 5 years into the project, the sand converted soil is found getting more and more fertile.

Crop yields are also increasing as a result.

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

Damn it is a big thrill
We have to accelerate this project
The above pix are showing grasses bushes shrubs and amphibians which are forming the fundamental layer of a forest to be
We want to see the growth of trees - a lot of them and then a wide swath of desert engulfed by forests, jungles within the next few decades ..and creating a rain forest within this century, possible?
Are we seeing a promising "Green Empire Strikes Back"?

 

[Solomon2]

The idea is that once you harvest whatever you planted, you leave the stems and leaves behind on the soil. You then rotate and leave that plot of land alone for a few months for the stuff to decompose. Those are natural fertilizers and moisture retainers. After a two years, you would be able to reclaim the land without any additional "paste". The downside is you need quite a bit of water to get started. Once you get into a positive cycle though, local climate can change if the scale is large enough.

The lead researcher, Yi Zhijian, has a background in soil mechanics His concern seems to be that although the technology is new and promising it has to start out small and slow, or else it's unsustainable. We'll know more when his full paper is published.

 

[AndrewJin]

According to the research team, which has been working on the project since 2013, the method costs between 22,500 yuan and 40,500 yuan (US$3,373 to US$6,071) per hectare.

It's very affordable to China.

@cirr Forest rate in Hubei Province has reached 40% in 2015, will reach 45% in 8 years.
(Hubei Province=185900km2)

 

[ZY-CN-CA]

it not easy.but I hopppppe it success

 

[Solomon2]

Here's the research paper: link

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Nearly 5 years into the project, the sand converted soil is found getting more and more fertile.

Crop yields are also increasing as a result.

In my opinion the bigger issue is water. How does one bring water, which is used to convert sand into soil, as well as to grow crops in arid regions like Gobi Desert. Usually, if there was water, the regions would not have been arid.

 

[cirr]

In my opinion the bigger issue is water. How does one bring water, which is used to convert sand into soil, as well as to grow crops in arid regions like Gobi Desert. Usually, if there was water, the regions would not have been arid.

So you don't know that many a desert in the world have abundant underground water reserves that can be used for irrigation for hundreds, if not thousands, of years?

Check out the Sahara Desert for yourself.

 

[AndrewJin]

So you don't know that many a desert in the world have abundant underground water reserves that can be used for irrigation for hundreds, if not thousands, of years?

Check out the Sahara Desert for yourself.

Crazy water supply in Tarim desert
http://tech.qq.com/a/20150914/007492.htm

 

[Solomon2]

So you don't know that many a desert in the world have abundant underground water reserves that can be used for irrigation for hundreds, if not thousands, of years?

Yi emphasizes the need for caution. Here's the conclusion of his paper:

...The large-scale application of sand “soilization” for planting has the potential to enable the establishment of a thriving desert ecosystem, which may offer a solution to several global environmental problems, such as deforestation, bio-diversity loss, and climate change [16,26–28]. However, large-scale desert control must take into consideration the risks of excessive or undue exploitation of underground water resources [29–32], and make good preparation for the potential impacts including the regional climate and bio-diversity changes brought about by extensive desert “soilization.” Therefore, before the large-scale application of desert “soilization,” scientifically comprehensive planning and assessment must be carried out first, and desert “soilization” might start from areas with access to adequate water resources.

While the lab research is two years old, the desert research only began four months ago. Yi is clearly concerned that excess enthusiasm leading to premature large-scale investment would be irresponsible and potentially disastrous.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Normally , if you want to grow anything you can just use "Fertilizer" spread it over the sand then grow stuff inside it

I think Saudia has been growing farms in desert for quite a long time

The fertilizers , help plant grow as they extract "necessary" food elements from fertilizers
Animals by product helps make fertilizers , also dead plant/grass from grass or cutting

• Water
• Carbon/Nitrogen Rich stuff helps grow plants

What is new about this technique

In US there is liquid nourishment solution people spray over their dead soil to help grow material mixed with water, it is like Steriods for plants

If this particular approach uses a different method certainly would be interesting to know just what was changed

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

Normally , if you want to grow anything you can just use "Fertilizer" spread it over the sand then grow stuff inside it

I think Saudia has been growing farms in desert for quite a long time

The fertilizers , help plant grow as they extract "necessary" food elements from fertilizers
Animals by product helps make fertilizers , also dead plant/grass from grass or cutting

• Water
• Carbon/Nitrogen Rich stuff helps grow plants

What is new about this technique

In US there is liquid nourishment solution people spray over their dead soil to help grow material mixed with water, it is like Steriods for plants

If this particular approach uses a different method certainly would be interesting to know just what was changed

That looks impressive too
So the Saudi-Arabians are adopting the "liquid nourishment solution"
Let's see which approach is more sustainable

So you don't know that many a desert in the world have abundant underground water reserves that can be used for irrigation for hundreds, if not thousands, of years?

Check out the Sahara Desert for yourself.

True
Water beds in the desert are formed deeply underground
Therefore only huge trees with strong and penetrating roots can reach there

 

[Jlaw]

It's very affordable to China.

@cirr Forest rate in Hubei Province has reached 40% in 2015, will reach 45% in 8 years.
(Hubei Province=185900km2)

At $6000/ hectare...very affordable! I'm excited with this new development by Chinese scientists

 

[Three_Kingdoms]

Yi emphasizes the need for caution. Here's the conclusion of his paper:

...The large-scale application of sand “soilization” for planting has the potential to enable the establishment of a thriving desert ecosystem, which may offer a solution to several global environmental problems, such as deforestation, bio-diversity loss, and climate change [16,26–28]. However, large-scale desert control must take into consideration the risks of excessive or undue exploitation of underground water resources [29–32], and make good preparation for the potential impacts including the regional climate and bio-diversity changes brought about by extensive desert “soilization.” Therefore, before the large-scale application of desert “soilization,” scientifically comprehensive planning and assessment must be carried out first, and desert “soilization” might start from areas with access to adequate water resources.

While the lab research is two years old, the desert research only began four months ago. Yi is clearly concerned that excess enthusiasm leading to premature large-scale investment would be irresponsible and potentially disastrous.

It is a wise caution by our scientists because we have experience of over-planting trees in the "Three-North Shelter Forest Program" that led to excessive drawing of water underground In the end the success rate fell short of our expectations