Land imprinting was invented in 1976 with several prototypes being assembled in Tombstone, AZ that same year. Land
imprinting demonstrations A though J were conducted from the late seventies to the early nineties in the vicinity of Tucson, AZ
where the annual rainfall ranges from 10 to 13 inches depending on the elevation. Land imprinting quickly proved to be
superior to the rangeland drill for establishing vegetation in the desertified lands of the Sonoran Desert. Land imprints hold soil
and rainwater resources in place for germinating seeds, establishing seedlings, and growing plants. Quantities of land biomass
and carbon storage rise abruptly after the first good rain following imprinting as revealed in the following photographs. Imprints
are sufficiently stable to wait for a period of up to 5 years for a good rain to occur in the Desert Southwest. Finally, land
imprinting holds great promise for reversing land desertification, globally.
Before
During
1 Year After
Before
During
2 Years After
2) Demo B: Avra Valley, AZ Seeded/Imprinted, September- November 1978. Land desertification caused by a series of human
disturbances including overgrazing and cotton farming, reversed in two years.
3) Demo C: Falcon Valley Ranch, AZ Seeded/Imprinted, March 1980. Land desertification caused by more than a century of
overgrazing, reversed in 5 months because of adequate monsoonal rain.
1) Demo A: Fort Huachuca, AZ Seeded/Imprinted, July 1978. Land desertification, caused by a series of human disturbances
including overgrazing and military activities, reversed.
Before
During
5 Months After
4) Demo D: Rail X Ranch, AZ Seeded/Imprinted, May 1980. Land desertification caused by more than a century of overgrazing and
periotic droughts, reversed in 4 months because of good monsoonal rains.
5) Demo E: Page Ranch, AZ Seeded/Imprinted, May 1982. Land desertification caused by more than a century of overgrazing, reversed
in 4 months.
Before
Before
During
During
4 Months After
4 Months After
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