Abstract
Measurements of dust emissions and the modeling of dissipation dynamics and total values are related to great uncertainties. Agricultural activity, especially soil cultivation, may be an essential component to calculate and model local and regional dust dynamics and even connect to the global dust cycle. To budget total dust and to assess the impact of tillage, measurement of mobilized and transported dust is an essential but rare basis. In this study, a simple measurement concept with Modified Wilson and Cook samplers was applied for dust measurements on a small temporal and spatial scale on steep-slope vineyards in the Moselle area. Without mechanical impact, a mean horizontal flux of 0.01 g m2 min−1 was measured, while row tillage produced a mean horizontal flux of 5.92 g m2 min−1 of mobilized material and 4.18 g m2 min−1 emitted dust from site (=soil loss). Compared on this singular-event basis, emissions during tillage operations generated 99.89% of total emitted dust from the site under low mean wind velocities. The results also indicate a differing impact of specific cultivation operations, mulching, and tillage tools as well as the additional influence of environmental conditions, with highest emissions on dry soil and with additional wind impact. The dust source function is strongly associated with cultivation operations, implying highly dynamic but also regular and thus predictable and projectable emission peaks of total suspended particles. Detailed knowledge of the effects of mechanical impulses and reliable quantification of the local dust emission inventory are a basis for analysis of risk potential and choice of adequate management options.
Highlights
Wind erosion and emission of mineral dust are traditionally associated with the global drylands [1], with the highest percentage originating from hot deserts [2]
25% of total dust emissions are estimated to originate from anthropogenic sources, predominantly agricultural areas [13], and 1000–3000 million tons per year of dust emissions are estimated to originate from global soils [14] including 6–30 million tons of fine dust with an aerodynamic diameter
For a first assessment of dust emission potential associated with soil cultivation, a simple first approach was implemented with the installation of Modified Wilson and Cook (MWAC) samplers
Summary
Wind erosion and emission of mineral dust are traditionally associated with the global drylands [1], with the highest percentage originating from hot deserts [2]. Climate change and land use change may severely increase the threat of wind erosion and dust emissions on a global scale [10]. Deflation induces the loss of fertile topsoil and release of mineral dust, implying yet unassessed ecological and socio-economic impacts such as the mobilization and redistribution of soil organic carbon, nutrients and pollutants [18,19,20], human health issues concerning fine dust [21], impacts on global climate [22] and extreme costs [23] in Europe [24]. Field observations are the basis for developing and testing dust modeling approaches [42], but to date most measurements do not provide enough information to determine the mechanisms that lead to dust emissions and often focus on a small variety of soil and atmospheric conditions [43]
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