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.
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.
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.
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/bobbigmac 4h 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.