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There's a better way to do it.. Trees can be planted in deserts without irrigation using technology developed by a Dutch company called Groasis [0]. They have
by htnsao 6y ago
There's a better way to do it.. Trees can be planted in deserts without irrigation using technology developed by a Dutch company called Groasis [0]. They have also recently come up with a new version of their Waterboxx that can use any kind of wastewater to plant trees, even sea water. [1] Looks like it works via solar condensation which then wicks into the soil so the roots can follow it down to the deeper capillary water ~3 meters below. So no need for drip irrigation.
This new water filter box will come in handy for ongoing restoration projects in the Galapagos Islands etc where fresh water is unavailable. Will make a post for it when more information becomes available.
[0] https://www.groasis.com https://www.groasis.com
[1] https://youtu.be/dcSnF_AoqgY https://youtu.be/dcSnF_AoqgY
- nashashmi 6y agoNot sure if this way is better. After some in-depth searching, I find the key piece in this solution is a "wick", a capillary rising water tube that takes water (of any quality) and feeds it into the ground.
- htnsao 6y agoYou missed the part about only needing to fill it once.
- jackmoore 6y agoI don't follow this
- dmos62 6y agoHere's an interesting case study about a plantation in a dry ski resort. It has more info, which is otherwise a bit hard to find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL5MDcgMmY2CXV3x-v0KCjMd1ZhglmS3tW&v=Zt2GDdvFYY4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL5MDcgMmY2CXV3x-v0KCjMd1... Notice, that it's a playlist with a bunch of these case studies. The device displayed in the video (the company makes a few different ones) didn't require watering at all, because it collects dew. It's also biodegradable, so there isn't a cleanup cost. They also provide physical protection for the sapplings, which can be important. It seems to add up to very high survival rate in tough environments. Edit: here's a brochure explaining the technology: https://issuu.com/groasis/docs/brochure_eng_2 https://issuu.com/groasis/docs/brochure_eng_2
- farseer 6y agoDew collection at night and massive evaporation of the Sahara during daytime. Not sure if this would be enough to sustain a medium sized tree. Whatever works in Netherlands may not work in Egypt.
- dmos62 6y agoThe collected water does not evaporate. The linked case studies are in extreme climates, like a 1500-1900 meter altitude mountainside or a desert in Spain, not central Europe.
- htnsao 6y agoRainwater refills it, evaporation blocked via siphon. Most deserts get at least 150-250 liters of water per square meter per year, often much more. [1] The boxes supply enough water for the roots to grow down to the capillary water below. [1] https://www.groasis.com/en/planting/what-is-capillary-water-in-the-ground https://www.groasis.com/en/planting/what-is-capillary-water-...
- _jahh 6y agoI was speaking with a land manager who was using these to dramatic results (80% vs 20% survival) in a very arid environment.
- sbt567 6y agoWow, thanks for pointing this out. This simple yet very powerful technology will definitely make planting easier. With apparently no need for water supply. This thing amaze me really
- jackmoore 6y agoYou'd have to constantly refill it, which would still require irrigation for transport. Instead of centralized distillation plus transport, you have distributed mini distillers at point of consumption plus transport. This doesn't seem special, what am I missing?
- krab 6y agoThe distillation is powered completely by the solar heat. You can also use quite low tech transportation because you do it only once in a while.
- htnsao 6y agoThere is moisture within ~3m in even the driest deserts. The water in the box slowly releases to make a connection with the capillary water deep below for the roots to reach within the first year. It's a planting method, not irrigation. Refills during rains, prevents evaporation via a clever siphon.
- mettamage 6y agoI'm a layman in this area, but doesn't the Land Life Company (also a Dutch company) [1] use similar technology? [1] https://landlifecompany.com/technology/ https://landlifecompany.com/technology/
- htnsao 6y agoA copycat started in 2013. Their Cocoon does not capture rainwater so is much less effective. Groasis invented the concept in 2003. [0] [0] https://www.groasis.com/en/products/the-development-of-the-products-that-make-up-the-groasis-ecological-water-saving-technology https://www.groasis.com/en/products/the-development-of-the-p...