A geotechnical countermeasure for combating desertification

A self-watering system and the design method are proposed. The self-watering system, which can collect and store all kinds of water, comprised of the simple ground is much efficient to support surface vegetation. The system is designed by installing soil structures into original sandy ground. Finer soils or artificial materials can be used as the materials of the soil structures. The system can continually raise the ground water to a certain depth in the sandy ground using the capillary force. Moreover, it can minimize the evaporation from the system, which provides the potential to prevent salinization. To design the system practically, information like soil water retention curve, hydraulic conductivity and other information such as planting density and weather condition are needed. The self-watering system works under the condition of no extra energy input.