Effects of cement mulch combinations on sand dunes fixation

Mulching is one of the methods of sand movement control to prepare condition for permanent fixation. Oil mulches have been used in Iran. Because of high cost and negative environmental impacts of oil mulches, changes in mulches type and mulching methods is vital. Therefore, for the first time in Iran, different combinations of cement and lime were examined as stabilizer. Sandy soil from the Yazd-Ardakan plain is used as bed treatment and Portland cement were used as the mulch in this research. The treatments were prepared using different ratios of the above mentioned materials. One liter of water was added to each mulch combinations and were sprinkled on the plot of 100 cm (length) × 30 cm (width) ×4 cm (height) sands. A completely randomized design is used as research plan with three repeating. Physical parameters, such as thickness, compressive strength, which are created by mulches, and wind erodibility of the treatments were measured. The measured data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results show that by increasing the amount of cement, soil crust resistance increases. The combination mulch of cement 400 gr, sand 800 gr, and lime 10 gr is selected as the best treatment, because it can be prepare optimum physical conditions for sand dune fixation. In addition, the cost of field cement mulching estimated 30% lower than oil mulching.