How can you protect the soil from wind blowing? Wind erosion of soils

Maintaining the optimal condition of the soil usually involves measures to protect its fertile layer. For this, stimulating fertilizers and various chemical additives are used. However, the structural integrity of the cover is of no small importance in preserving the fertile function of the land plot. Violations in the upper word occur under the influence of different causes, but the question of how to protect the soil from wind blowing is considered the most urgent. Ignoring negative factors in the process of land exploitation can provoke the development of erosion, which will not allow to obtain the expected volumes of harvest. The restoration process, in turn, lasts a long time and is not always realized without professional help.

What is wind erosion of soils?

Under wind erosion is meant such an impact on the upper layer of the earth, at which the blowing and subsequent separation of soil particles occurs. In other words, air flows remove from the surface of the outer cover, which leads to the exposure of the root system of plants. At the same time, damage from wind erosion is caused not only in places where direct blowing occurs. During the transfer, the particles of the earth can cover other areas with crops, which also leads to negative consequences. Therefore, the question of how to protect the soil from blowing by the wind should be considered more broadly, that is, taking into account the conservation tasks and the nearby areas, where the separation of soil particles is possible. As experts note, in regions with a strong impact of air currents in just a few days, the fertile layer may completely lose its humus horizon. A complete restoration of a two-centimeter layer of humus under natural conditions can occur for hundreds of years.

What should be protected from the soil?

To prevent a negative impact on the soil cover, it is necessary to identify the causes that lead to similar processes from the outset. It would seem that the main factor of such destruction of the soil is the wind. But this is not entirely true, since initially in the ecosystem there are also protective functions, the violation of which leads to the same erosion. For example, natural vegetation acts as an effective barrier before blowing, since the root system holds the ground particles together and does not allow them to disperse. There are other causes of soil erosion, which should be taken into account in preventing unpleasant consequences. In no small measure, and the result of agricultural activities can contribute to the destruction of the structure of the soil layer. Unreasonable use of fertilizers, in particular, can lead to excessive dryness of the soil and a decrease in the humus content, which also contributes to destruction.

Hydrotechnical protective measures

Erosion occurs not only due to wind impact, but also with abundant ground contact with water. But in both cases, the factors that trigger the negative process of destruction are not just different, but mutually exclusive phenomena. Therefore, in addressing the issue of how to protect the soil from wind blowing, many agricultural enterprises consider the use of hydraulic stations, which allow regulating the moisture balance. Of course, this is only one of the measures that make it possible to exclude the destruction of land cover, so it should be combined with other methods of protection.

Cultivation of the earth

Still, the basis of measures to protect the soil from erosion is the treatment of the upper layer. As an obligatory operation of this type, a deepened plowing of more than 22 cm is practiced, alternating with conventional cultivation with intervals of 2-3 years. In addition, planing and soil-free tillage of the soil can be performed, as well as strip loosening of the plowland. Such agrotechnical procedures are the main answer to the question of how to protect the soil from wind blowing without a radical change in the terrain. A typical farmer can resort to such measures, using a minimal set of technical means. Even simple soil treatment helps to strengthen its structure and prevents the spraying of particles.

Crops as an instrument to combat weathering

On any terrain that is subject to wind erosion, soil protection rotation will provide the greatest effect. In particular, the practice of planting crops with beds high-stature varieties. Here it is worth noting forest melioration activities in the form of the organization of protective plantations. It should be borne in mind that the answer to the question of how it is possible to protect the soil from blowing by the wind due to sowing should be decided at the planning stage of land management. If the mentioned forest management measures are planned to combat erosion, then the plan should be made several years in advance. If we manage only with agricultural plants, the effect will be weak and short-lived.

Conclusion

The exploitation of soil is a complex process, influenced by many external factors - from the climate to the ecological state of the environment. Of course, wind activity is one of the primary answers to the question of what should be protected in the course of exploitation. There are different ways to deal with the risks of erosion, including agrotechnical measures, and forest melioration techniques. Practice shows that it is possible to achieve significant results in this business only if the combined use of several methods of protecting the soil from weathering occurs. Another thing is that only one approach will serve as the main direction - in one case it will be cultivation, and in another, for example, plantations. At the same time, experts do not recommend abusing active measures to combat erosion, since wind can also be useful as a source of nutrients that are also transferred from other territories.