Controllability of quantitative and qualitative soil loss induced by wind erosion under laboratory conditions through polymer and vegetable-based mulch

Fertile soil loss is one of the negative effects of wind erosion that reduces soil productivity. In this research, the effect of two stabilizers has been studied for reducing nutrients loss of western Khuzestan soils in the soil laboratory of Ahvaz unit of Azad University in summer 2018. For this reason, wind erosion simulator was designed and built. The effectiveness of two stabilizers (anionic polyacrylamide polymer and vegetable-based mulch), in four concentration levels (0, 15, 30 and 60 percent) on three types of soils with three replications were studied in 47 km h-1 wind speed in the wind erosion simulator. In total, 72 soil samples were examined in a Factorial test and in the form of complete random design. Results showed that wind erosion happened between 27.04 and 44.7 gr m-2 min-1. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant difference between the stabilizers and control. The polymer reduced soil loss by 99%. The vegetable-based mulch reduced soil loss more than 98% in Alvan and Hoveyzeh samples. But, in Borvayeh samples at 15 and 30 percent of concentrations soil loss has been reduced by 13 and 67 percent, respectively. The average loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter were 1.59, 0.64 and 0.6 gr m-2 min-1 that causes serious environmental and economic problems for the land exposed to erosion. The polymer reduced the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter by 99 percent. The vegetable-based mulch reduced the loss of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter by 98 percent in Alvan and Hoveyzeh samples and 56.6 percent in Borvayeh samples. Using stabilizers with cultivation of native plants can stabilize the soil against wind erosion.