Use of Steel Manufacturing Slag (Foulad Mobarake Co.) as Mulch to Stabilize Wind Eroded Sediment Case Study: Soils in East of Isfahan

This research was performed at the Natural Resources Department Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology to investigate the effect of slag mulch on the amount of wind erosion and its threshold velocity using a wind tunnel. Soil samples from the study area “segzy plan” in the East area of Isfahan were placed in 100 by 30 cm trays to a depth of 3 cm. Four levels of coverage of slag: 25، 50، 75، and 100 percent and three aggregation sizes of 15-30، 30-45، and 45-60 mm and two thicknesses of one layer and two layers with four repetitions were used. Wind velocities were measured at a height of 20 cm from the soil surface. Each treatment was conducted for a duration of 5 min. The data were analyzed by SPSS and Excel in the form of complete random plan and statistical factorial design. The results showed no significant difference in the 5% level between the numbers of layers. Wind erosion decreased exponentially with increased coverage level and aggregation size. The best treatment was the use of slag at 75% coverage levels and 30-45 mm aggregate size in one layer، which included economic and performance feasibility.