Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
1. Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Bushehr Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr, Iran.
2
Soil and water Research Department, Bushehr Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bushehr, Iran
3
Animal Science Research Department, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
4
3. Research institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj
5
5. Animal Science Research Department, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Abstract
Wind erosion, as one of the most critical environmental and agricultural challenges, poses significant threats to soil productivity and food security, with profound implications for ecosystems and human well-being. Given that Bushehr Province is situated in an arid and semi-arid region and frequently experiences dust storms, this study was conducted to assess soil susceptibility to wind erosion, determine the threshold wind velocity, and explore its relationship with soil characteristics in the province. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from 22 stations across seven desert counties of Bushehr Province to quantify the observed threshold wind speed (m/s), calculated threshold wind speed (m/s), and total wind erosion (kg/m²/min) under three wind classes: 15, 20, and 25 m/s.
The results revealed that the lowest observed and calculated threshold wind speeds (5 and 6 m/s, respectively) were recorded in Pahlevan Keshi village and the rangelands of the Gorgour erosion hotspot in Tangestan County. In contrast, the highest thresholds (15 and 19.4 m/s) were found in abandoned lands along the Kabgan road, shrimp farming sites, and rangelands in the Meleh Sookhteh area of Genaveh, Deylam, Dayyer, and Bushehr counties. The maximum wind erosion rates (47.7 and 31.4 kg/m²/min) occurred in areas with the lowest threshold wind speed (6 m/s), particularly in artificially planted rangelands. Conversely, the minimum wind erosion rates (ranging from 0.36 to 1 kg/m²/min) were recorded in regions with the highest threshold wind speed (15 m/s), including shrimp farming sites and abandoned rangelands.
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