Chinese scientists find way to convert sand to soil

This is obviously an expensive way to create a viable soil.    However it is also a starting point. The problem is to produce liberated powdered lignin which represents half of the weight of most plant waste and particularly straws.

Whereas straw will not hold water, this powder will.  So there is a process in between that needs to be made cheap.

I do think though that such a system will create a long lasting soil bed that can be naturally expanded.  If we can release the lignin cheaply enough, then we also have an answer for the huge amounts of waste straw and even bagasse that we produce.

The other alternative is to produce biochar from the same feedstock which is also slowly expanding. .

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Chinese scientists find way to convert sand to soil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idjegdl0L3Y&feature=share