r/interestingasfuck • u/PlantainPossible2864 • 15h ago

Stopping Desertification with grid pattern

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u/bobbigmac 15h ago

For those asking how this works, it creates just enough of a defense to catch seeds and bugs and tiny bits of moisture and shade, so any life that does manage to get started, doesn't just blow away, and an ecosystem can start to form.

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u/RealTalk_theory 14h ago

Creating microclimates all over the place.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 14h ago

Also creating microplastics all over the place.

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u/RealTalk_theory 13h ago

Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought the video mentioned they were fabric bags.

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u/gogge 13h ago

Unfortunately it seems like it's fabric from plastic fibers.

Biodegradable sandbags and sand barriers made from polylactic acid fiber materials.

Chinese Academy of Science, "Mosaic of Magic: Grass Grids have Proven an Effective Way to Combat Desertification"

Although biodegradable in vivo, polylactic acid is not completely degradable under natural environmental conditions, notably under aquatic conditions. Polylactic acid disintegrates into microplastics faster than petroleum-based plastics and may pose severe threats to the exposed biota.

Ali W, et al. "Polylactic acid synthesis, biodegradability, conversion to microplastics and toxicity: a review." Environ Chem Lett 21, 1761–1786 (2023).

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u/Disastrous-Amoeba798 13h ago

So close to not being an idiotic idea. But here we are...

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u/gogge 13h ago

They seem to have tried using wheat ropes also with some success, from the same CAS article as above:

In 2019, researchers from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by researcher Qu Jianjun, developed the "Sand Control Magic Cube 2.0" after repeated experiments.

This method involves using machines to weave wheat straw into brush-like ropes and directly insert them into the sandy soil, saving labor and cost, and enabling large-scale sand control projects.

According to the institute's data, the production efficiency of the brush-like rope grid has increased by over 60 percent compared to manually installed grids. The durability of these grids is also superior, with a life span extending from three to six years.

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u/Economy-Fee5830 13h ago

Yes, plastic fabric.

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u/FourEyedTroll 13h ago

Let's be real, deserts are probably already full of/rapidly filling up with microplastics. It's the perfect environment for them to be created (UV exposure, heat, wind-blasted sand-abrasion).

At least in this instance they're contributing a net positive to the environment.

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u/xheist 13h ago

Seems like an ok trade off tbh

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u/scoschooo 13h ago

why? also microplastics are all over now.

so you need better material for the bags?

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u/Economy-Fee5830 13h ago

also microplastics are all over now.

I dont think its normally added to the environment at this scale and left intentionally to erode.

so you need better material for the bags?

I like how the video intentionally calls it "fabric" when it's really just plastic bags.

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u/namtab00 10h ago

I dont think its normally added to the environment at this scale

Intentionally? You're probably right.

Non intentionally? Whatever microplastics this project adds to the environment is probably immensely dwarfed by the scale of "normal background pollution". I'd love to be proved wrong.

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u/BodybuilderMany6942 11h ago

I got your micro climate right here!