4 ms·

The problem is there isn't much biomass in the desert to bury.

• TheSpiceIsLife 8y ago
  Good point. I wonder if it is an input worth importing?
  • Jedd 8y ago
    My gut feeling is 'probably not'. A variety of reasons spring to mind. It's unproven (most support is anecdotal, with few if any rigorous studies available), possibly performs no better than bunds / swales / keyline, requires a lot of maintenance (rebuild every few years), is better for short-term crops than the preferred tree / forest crops for these sites that will be more resilient to regular droughts, risk of introducing non-native pest species.
    • thinkcontext 8y ago
      I've heard of efforts to "jumpstart" a system through usage of a one time organic import. Geoff Lawton's project in Jordan of Greening the Desert fame comes to mind. Also there are expeyyriments in applying compost from the Marin Carbon project.
      • Jedd 8y ago
        You're absolutely right. I've even heard senior permaculture types suggest superphosphate for use as a one-hit kick-starter .. but as I say, Hügelkultur is not a particularly well proven method, and I suspect its primary benefits are enjoyed in an area with regular & frequent rainfalls. For bang-for-back (or bang per kilogram, as transport may be the biggest expense in these environments) something like biochar would be a good import. Guaranteed pest-free, lightweight, hard to make on-site, etc. Nutrient loss won't be as severe as in a heavy rainfall environment, but what little there is here you'd want to lock up before the next big rains.