Investigation of Effect of Clay-Lime Mulch for Sand Dunes Fixation

Sand dunes movement is one of the critical processes of desertification. Mulching is one of the methods of sand movement control. Oil mulches have been used in Iran. Because of high cost and negative environmental impacts of oil mulches، changes in mulch type sand mulching methods is vital. Therefore، in this research different combinations of clay and lime were used as stabilizer. Sandy soil from the Yazd-Ardakan plain is used as bed treatment and clay particles (taken from Meybod area) were used as mulch in this research. The treatments were prepared using different ratios of the above mentioned materials. One liter of water was added to the each mulch combination and was sprinkled on the plot of 100 cm (length) × 30 cm (width) × 4 cm (height) sand. A completely randomized design is used as research plan with three repeating. Physical parameters، such as thickness، compressive strength، impact resistance and abrasion resistance which are created by mulches، and wind erodibility of the treatment were measured. The measured data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results show that the measured compressive strength، impact resistance and abrasion resistance of the clay–lime mulch is increase in the ratio of 200 gr clay and 10 gr lime in one liter of water.