SIDASS project: Part 4. Wind erodibility of cultivated soils in north-east Hungary

Abstract

In the last two decades dry climatic conditions become frequent in Hungary, especially in the lowland area. Under dry conditions the danger of wind erosion increases especially in the sand areas when plant coverage is incomplete or missing in spring and autumn. According to field observations the wind erosion can be significant not only on sandy but on loamy soils, as well. The present work – in SIDASS project of the European Community (CT15-CT98-0106) – aimed at characterizing wind erodibility of soils differing in texture at the cultivated agricultural area in the Northeast part of Hungary. Soils of the test area were grouped into three categories. Soil groups were characterized beyond their soil properties by the critical starting wind velocity, parameters of the vertical wind profile functions above the soil surface and quantity of the eroded soil determined in wind tunnel experiments. After determining the wind erosion parameters the potential wind erosion of the soils was estimated for the study area of Hungary. Surface roughness and wind speed of the critical starting velocity of wind erosion were estimated. The estimation is considered potential since soils assumed dry and without plant cover. Estimation showed that about 10% of the studied agricultural area is endangered by strong, and about 15% is by medium level wind erosion. The no and less susceptible wind erosion area covers about 75% of the county's agricultural area.