The effect of shelterbelts on erosion and soil properties
1995
De Jong, Eeltje | KOWALCHUK, TERRY E.
Shelterbelt planting is often recommended as a means to reduce wind erosion. Six sheltered and three unsheltered fields representing moderately coarse to moderately fine textured soils were sampled along transects to determine the effects of the belts on soil wind erosion and soil properties. Cs measurements indicated that shelterbelts about 6 m tall and 200 m apart considerably reduced off-field soil losses from moderately coarse and medium textured soils. Off-field soil losses from unsheltered moderately fine textured soils were low and similar to those from sheltered fields. Shelterbelts did not prevent in-field redistribution, and soil deposition was evident out from the shelterbelts for about 20 m. Organic C and 15-bar water content were increased, and bulk density decreased, in a strip about 10 m wide adjacent to the belts. Increased biomass production from the shelterbelt and its grass edge are probably the main cause for the increased organic C content. Decreased bulk electrical conductivity indicated increased leaching out to about 15 m from the belt. Leaching has also decreased the pH of the surface soil but has not affected the depth to carbonates.
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