Regularities of wind-erosion of different land-use types in Yongding River sandy land, Beijing

Abstract

The threshold wind velocity of a number of variables was studied in four different land-use types: farm land, forestland, wild grassland and a flood plain in the Yongding River sandy land in Beijing. The variables studied were transport of sand, underlying surface roughness, windblown sediment, wind-sand flow structure, soil mechanical composition and amount of wind erosion. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) The order of decreasing threshold of wind speed for sand displacement and surface roughness were forestland, wild grassland, farm land, sparse wild grassland and flood plain. 2) There were significant differences in sand flux among different ground covers. At a height of 0–20 cm, the height increased while the sediment discharge percent of sand flux decreased; there were significant differences in the sand flow formation under different land-use types. 3) The mechanical composition of sand particles consisted mainly of silver sand in the flood plain and sparse wild grassland, and of silver sand, particle silver sand and floury sand in other land-use types. 4) The amounts of wind erosion and sand sediment were different among different land-use types. Increased vegetation cover and change in farming techniques were suggested to prevent and control wind erosion of sand and soil.