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Physical Crust Formation on Sandy Soils and Their Potential to Reduce Dust Emissions from Croplands

Author

Listed:
  • Heleen C. Vos

    (Physical Geography and Environmental Change Research Group, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Wolfgang Fister

    (Physical Geography and Environmental Change Research Group, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland)

  • Frank D. Eckardt

    (Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa)

  • Anthony R. Palmer

    (Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa)

  • Nikolaus J. Kuhn

    (Physical Geography and Environmental Change Research Group, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland)

Abstract

The sandy croplands in the Free State have been identified as one of the main dust sources in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and strength of physical soil crusts on cropland soils in the Free State, to identify the rainfall required to form a stable crust, and to test their impact on dust emissions. Crust strength was measured using a fall cone penetrometer and a torvane, while laboratory rainfall simulations were used to form experimental crusts. Dust emissions were measured with a Portable In-Situ Wind Erosion Laboratory (PI-SWERL). The laboratory rainfall simulations showed that stable crusts could be formed by 15 mm of rainfall. The PI-SWERL experiments illustrated that the PM 10 emission flux of such crusts is between 0.14% and 0.26% of that of a non-crusted Luvisol and Arenosol, respectively. The presence of abraders on the crust can increase the emissions up to 4% and 8% of the non-crusted dust flux. Overall, our study shows that crusts in the field are potentially strong enough to protect the soil surfaces against wind erosion during a phase of the cropping cycle when the soil surface is not protected by plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Heleen C. Vos & Wolfgang Fister & Frank D. Eckardt & Anthony R. Palmer & Nikolaus J. Kuhn, 2020. "Physical Crust Formation on Sandy Soils and Their Potential to Reduce Dust Emissions from Croplands," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:12:p:503-:d:458810
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chatrina Caviezel & Matthias Hunziker & Nikolaus J. Kuhn, 2017. "Bequest of the Norseman—The Potential for Agricultural Intensification and Expansion in Southern Greenland under Climate Change," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Zhongling Guo & Ning Huang & Zhibao Dong & Robert Scott Van Pelt & Ted M. Zobeck, 2014. "Wind Erosion Induced Soil Degradation in Northern China: Status, Measures and Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Yaxian Hu & Wolfgang Fister & Nikolaus J. Kuhn, 2013. "Temporal Variation of SOC Enrichment from Interrill Erosion over Prolonged Rainfall Simulations," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-15, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Guibin Chen & Qingjie Wang & Hongwen Li & Jin He & Caiyun Lu & Shaojun Gong & Dijuan Xu & Xinpeng Cao, 2022. "Research on the Effect of Conservation Tillage Mode on the Suppression of Near-Surface Dust in Farmland," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-23, May.

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