Effects of vegetation pattern and of biochar and powdery soil amendments on soil loss by wind in a semi‐arid region

Abstract

Wind erosion mostly occurs in flat, bare areas, with dry, fine sandy to coarse silty soil or where the soil is loose and degraded. Soil degradation, including decline in soil quality caused by its improper use or poor management and soil erosion, has been considered as a major environmental issue in arid and semi-arid areas (Cornelis, 2006; Stroosnijder, 2007; Youssef et al., 2012). In arid areas, wind erosion is the main cause of erosion that leads to desertification. The extent of wind erosion, however, varies in different soils. Soil properties such as soil texture, structure, wetness, organic matter and aggregate stability affect the displacement of particles by wind. Long-term cultivation and intensive grazing decreases soil organic carbon and soil aggregate stability and increases its erosion potential (Obia, Mulder, Martinsen, Cornelissen, & Børresen, 2016). Various methods exist to stabilize soils, including biological, chemical, physical and mechanical stabilization methods. The effective addition of materials to degraded soils can

Biochar for sustainable soil management

“…When combined with NPK fertilizers, biochar was found to be particularly effective in decreasing soil erosion because of runoff (Bashagaluke et al., 2019), owing to improved hydro‐physical properties (Abdo, 2020). Waste walnut wood biochar significantly reduced wind erosion (Pajouhesh et al., 2020). However, similar to concerns on the longevity of biochar's effect in immobilizing heavy metals, there are also concerns on biochar's effect on improving soil health.…”

A critical review on occurrence, distribution, environmental impacts and biodegradation of microplastics

“…This study focuses on the association between microplastics and soil quality, as well as the effects on the activity of plants and the fate of microplastics in soils. C. stenophylla is gaining importance in arid and semi-arid desert ecosystems, and its scarcity is a major cause of desertification, which increases wind and water erosion (Pajouhesh et al, 2020;Gharahi and Ahmad mahmoodi, 2022). Agricultural activities, sewage/sludge amendments and organic fertilisers, and plastic films and mulches, soil systems are the major basin of plastics (de Souza Machado et al, 2018;He et al, 2018;Chae and An, 2018).…”

Effect of plastic pollution in soil properties and growth of grass species in semi-arid regions: a laboratory experiment

“…Therefore, this experiment was set up to assess the plant performance responses to the microplastic contamination of soil ecosystems by polymer polyethylene terephthalate (PET), using soil sown with Carex stenophylla Wahlenb., the most important grass species in semi-arid regions. C. stenophylla plays an increasingly important role in desert ecosystem in arid and semi-arid regions and its shortage is an important cause of desertification which increases wind and water erosion (Pajouhesh et al 2020 ).…”