Groasis Waterboxx

Basics

• A Product by Groasis B.V.
• Designed to Aid in Tree Planting by increasing the Survivability of the Seedlings in the First Year or So
• Combines Dew Harvesting, Water Storage, Protection From Wind/Predators, and minor Thermal Moderation into a Single Device
• The Roof Uses a hydrophobic coating, but may be 3d printable (especially considering it's complex geometry, and thin walls perhaps being printable in Vase Mode
• Look into if it can have an integrated Seed ball type thing, and make some sort of automated workflow for the lifetrack. (some sort of towed storage device, and automated drilling + placing + covering system (if even worth it, a semi-automated workflow may be more resource efficient) ).
• Look into real world usage + benefit over not using one

Design

• It resembles a Bundt Pan to an extent, although less of a curve on the external base, more of a cylindrical 5 Gallon Bucket type profile
• There is a "lid" with Citrus Juicer Top Piece / Mushroom Gill like V-Shaped Ridges on the Top to Collect Condensation+Dew (The Funnel on the top side of that lid also collects dew+rainwater
• The "Bundt Pan" Like Center Allows the Sapling to not be blocked
  • The Torus-like section around it stores water
  • It is delivered via a string-capillary keeping the soil damp
• Thus it Protects the Young Sapling Via:
  • Providing Water
    • Especially in Arid Conditions
    • Also it does not provide so much that it makes it not grow roots/find water on it's own, merely a slow trickle by the capillary to keep it viable past that "planting shock" as it's roots establish in the new area
  • Acting in a manner similar to Cover Crops / Plasticulture
    • It Prevents Grasses and similar plants from outgrowing it and smothering any Direct Sunlight it would get
  • Thermally Moderates the Zone in Which it Grows
    • Akin to Passive Solar Heated Greenhouses the Water Heats up in the Day, and Keeps it Warm at Night (Again especially helpful in Arid Regions)
  • Preventing Predation by Larger Herbivores
    • That stage where deer etc will eat the sapling, but it is not a proper durable tree yet
    • This can be enhanced by a Sapling Protector / Tree Protector and/or Chemical Animal Repellents

Internal Links

• Afforestation Workshop -can't seem to find this, was the hazelnut trees i think? had some videos with the lifetrac and whatnot on it. Also made the Tree Guards for animals eating the saplings?
• Pottiputki (A Tool to Ergonomically Plant Saplings)

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on the Groasis Waterboxx
• The Company's Shop
  • Quite Expensive Until Large Volumes are Bought
  • The Plastic Ones (Technically are the "Waterbox" PROPER, they have Moulded Pulp ones now that are single use)
• Product Page
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology" Titled "How does the Groasis Waterboxx plant cocoon work against desertification?" ( ~4 Minute Watch ) (Appears to be No Audio (For better or for worse) so reading the "slides" of sorts will need to be done by the person watching it)
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology" Titled "Anti desertification and reforestation with the Growboxx® plant cocoon" ( ~3 Minute Watch ) (This is the Moulded Pulp one, it also has small holes for other crops (whether that is a Gimmick or not needs to be figured out)
• A Video by the YouTube Channel "ICBA - ag4tomorrow" Titled "Cocoon planting technology in UAE"
  • Showcases Roadside Use of the above Product
  • Also mentions testing of Biochar