An assessment of the ability of a novel mulch to stabilise sand dunes in the Sistan region of Iran

• Published in: International journal of environmental studies Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 759 - 772
• Main Authors: Zoraghi, Gholamheidar, Goraji, Kazem Shabani, Noura, Mohammadreza, Rashki, Alireza, Bumby, Adam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Routledge 03.09.2021; Gordon and Breach Science Publishers
• Subjects: calcium hydroxide; Dunes; dust; Environmental science; Environmental studies; Iran; Loam soils; mulch; Mulches; Sand; sand dunes; Shear strength; Silt loam; silt loam soils; Sistan. wind erosion; Soil erosion; Soil lime; Soils; Substrates; Wind erosion; Wind measurement; Iran
• ISSN: 0020-7233; 1029-0400; 1029-0400
• DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2020.1864189

The Sistan region in south-east Iran is subject to highly active wind erosion and is considered one of the most important sources of dust in south-west Asia. This research was concerned with the assessment of the efficiency of mulches in stabilising sand dunes. The mulches are mixtures of local silty loam soil and hydrated lime in different concentrations, which were sprinkled on plots on the surface of sand dunes. The amount of wind erosion was measured at two-month intervals from January to September 2015. The results showed a significant increase in the shear strength of the substrate where the soil content of mulches had been increased. The mulch containing 15% local soil and 1% hydrated lime demonstrated the best performance against wind erosion.