Does using organic waste to plant trees reduce the need for water?

[ThunderCat]

I recently visited a relative in a rural Canada and they have been growing a lot of food in their backyard, some of which they gave to me and my mother.

But they had been dumping their organic waste into the ground and it was rapidly growing plants. We all know that organic waste is probably the most effective tool to grow plants, but does the need for water become less when you do that?

Can you just bury organic waste in planted areas and reduce the need for water?

My question is can this same method be used for trees? The UAE and Qatari government are doing tree planting programs in the deserts of their country. UAE has also started a recycling program in the past few years where garbage and recycling go in different bins, but unlike Canada, they have no organic waste program.

I'm considering writing to them and encouraging them to start an organic waste program to contribute to their tree planting, telling them that it'll save them lot of water. But I need to verify that before writing to them.

Anyone here knowledgeable on this to tell me?

 

[PakSword]

I recently visited a relative in a rural Canada and they have been growing a lot of food in their backyard, some of which they gave to me and my mother.

But they had been dumping their organic waste into the ground and it was rapidly growing plants. We all know that organic waste is probably the most effective tool to grow plants, but does the need for water become less when you do that?

Can you just bury organic waste in planted areas and reduce the need for water?

My question is can this same method be used for trees? The UAE and Qatari government are doing tree planting programs in the deserts of their country. UAE has also started a recycling program in the past few years where garbage and recycling go in different bins, but unlike Canada, they have no organic waste program.

I'm considering writing to them and encouraging them to start an organic waste program to contribute to their tree planting, telling them that it'll save them lot of water. But I need to verify that before writing to them.

Anyone here knowledgeable on this to tell me?

Organic waste slows down the speed of water going deep. Water is absorbed by the waste and is available to the roots for a longer period of time. Take out organic waste, the remaining sand doesn't keep the water level up..

To collect the organic waste, I believe the whole nation needs to be educated where to through what. For example, you have probably seen four different types of waste bins at many places in UAE.. One for glass bottles, another for metals, third for plastics and fourth for food leftovers/ paper. If the waste is not segregated in the earlier stages, it becomes costly to separate the waste in later stages. But many people do not fully understand the need to segregate the waste because they are not properly educated about it.. This program hasn't been fully implemented as well..

But this is only one aspect of forestation in deserts. The best way is to plant trees which are native to these deserts.. UAE is moving in the right direction (if you have seen plantation sites between Abu Dhabi and Dubai), as they are planting those trees which do not need much water to survive and are native to the land. The next step (which has already been taken) is building enclosures around the plantation sites, so that the leaves that fall off the trees decay at the plantation sites and mix with sand to convert it in soil. This is already happening, but at a very slow pace as the deserts in UAE are made of pure sand.. it may take years to convert the sand into soil at the plantation sites.. Another important aspect is the wildlife.. native birds and other animal species must be brought into those areas to support ecosystem sustain on its own.

Education + Segregation of waste to obtain organic waste + Native Tree Plantation + Enclosures + wildlife... all of these factors are necessary for a successful afforestation project.. (I didn't include money as UAE/ other gulf states has plenty of it.. so if water is required in the initial years, desalination plants may be built to provide water to these areas).

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The above is only my research and can't be taken as a professional advice.. because I am an accountant..

 

[BHarwana]

I recently read about Chinese doing some experiment with some organic gel in the Mongolian desert which reduced water consumption to great extend. Look for it. It was also economical method.

another method that can be used to stop water from going deep is Diammonium phosphate but this for soil that is too much pours like desert it is known as DAP fertilizer and it hardens the soil and makes it consume less water and retain water for a longer time. It will give nutrition as well and will help stop water from draining down deep.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

I recently visited a relative in a rural Canada and they have been growing a lot of food in their backyard, some of which they gave to me and my mother.

But they had been dumping their organic waste into the ground and it was rapidly growing plants. We all know that organic waste is probably the most effective tool to grow plants, but does the need for water become less when you do that?

Can you just bury organic waste in planted areas and reduce the need for water?

My question is can this same method be used for trees? The UAE and Qatari government are doing tree planting programs in the deserts of their country. UAE has also started a recycling program in the past few years where garbage and recycling go in different bins, but unlike Canada, they have no organic waste program.

I'm considering writing to them and encouraging them to start an organic waste program to contribute to their tree planting, telling them that it'll save them lot of water. But I need to verify that before writing to them.

Anyone here knowledgeable on this to tell me?

They mix peat moss into gardens here and in Canada for water retention.

i put scraps/liquid in a container outside and let it decay a bit in the sun. It will smell foul but plants love it

 

[ThunderCat]

Thanks for the replies. If you know anything else, post it here.