Wind Erosion And Its Control

Wind erosion is widespread on agricultural land in the Great Plains, particularly in the semi-arid regions. Wind erosion physically removes the most fertile part of the soil (organic matter, clay, and silt) and lowers soil productivity. This loss in productivity increases the costs of producing crops. Blowing soil can reduce seedling survival and growth, depress crop yields, and increase the susceptibility of plants to certain types of stress, including diseases.

Some soil from eroded land enters suspension and becomes part of the atmospheric dust load. Dust obscures visibility and pollutes the air, fills road ditches and impacts water quality, causes automobile accidents, fouls machinery, and imperils animal and human health. Wind erosion is a threat to the sustainability of the land as well as the viability and quality of life for rural and urban communities.

Many practices can be used to reduce wind erosion, but all are basically directed at accomplishing one or more of the following:

Reduce wind velocity at the soil surface
Trap soil particles
Increase size of soiol aggregates