Can rubbish resolve desertification?

[Myuncle]

Vegetation would normally hold moisture, which evaporates into the atmosphere due to the warm climate. All rain in the amazon forest for example doesn't come from the ocean, but from the forest itself, its moisture is continuosly recycled. If the vegetation is removed, there is less moisture available for evaporation. Rainfall decreases and dry soil can easily be blown away. So, I understand that everything it's useless if the soil is not holding any moisture. So, can rubbish, only initially widely scattered in a desert, hold the moisture?

[pears]

What kind of rubbish?

[Myuncle]

What kind of rubbish?

Don't know. Something that actracts seagulls, they can fly long distances, and with their excrements they can fertilize and spread seeds...

Another solution could be connecting sea water to the below sea level places in the deserts. Thin pipes would provide an infinite amount of water in these strategic places, gravity would make the rest. The hot climate would make the sea water evaporate in the middle of the desert. Think about Bogda Mountains in China, Mojave Desert, etc, their temperatures are unforgiving, just sprinkle sea water in the air, and you have clouds 24 hours a day. Sprayers to shoot the salt water into the sky can be done in the ocean, but the problem is the winds, how can you be sure that the wind will guide the clouds in the middle of the desert? So, if you connect the sea to below sea levels in the middle of the deserts, no winds would be needed.

Link to below sea level places, some of them are in the deserts.

http://greenbuzzz.net/environment/nine-places-furthest-below-sea-level-on-earth/

[EdEarl]

There is already some progress made on reversing desertification, where farm animals graze.

[Myuncle]

There is already some progress made on reversing desertification, where farm animals graze.

That's so intersting. That's like saying: if you don't use things they won't last. Just like for our car, our computer, or our body, if you don't use them they won't last, if you use them they will last longer, and if you abuse them they will die soon of course. The same is for the land, you have to use it, or it will disappear.

Edited August 25, 2013 by Myuncle

[John Cuthber]

His assertion at about 1 minute 30 seconds that desertification only happens when we create bare ground is clearly false.

Deserts were made before we were here.

Edited August 25, 2013 by John Cuthber

[EdEarl]

His assertion at about 1 minute 30 seconds that desertification only happens when we create bare ground is clearly false.

Deserts were made before we were here.

That is a flaw in the presentation, a misstatement. We clearly did not create all the world's deserts. But, I think we have contributed to making some deserts. However, he makes a compelling argument that his land use methods have helped some desertified areas recover. Clearly, deserts that get too little rainfall cannot be helped by his methods.