Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 658-667.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.04.08

• Land and Water Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of three plant-based sand-fixing agents on water infiltration and evaporation in aeolian sandy soil

LIU Yue1(), GUO Qiang2, YUAN Limin3,4,5, DANG Xiaohong1(), MENG Zhongju1, DONG Jing6   

  1. 1. College of Desert Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, Inner Mongolia, China
    2. Hohhot Water Resources and River and Lake Protection Center, Hohhot 010020, Inner Mongolia, China
    3. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Forestry Research Institute Forestry and Grassland Science and Technology Innovation Center, Hohhot 010010, Inner Mongolia, China
    4. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Key Laboratory of Sandy (Desert) Ecosystem and Ecological Engineering, Hohhot 010010, Inner Mongolia, China
    5. Key Laboratory of Conservation and Cultivation of Biological Resources in Sandy Land, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Hohhot 010010, Inner Mongolia, China
    6. The Wang Yanan Institute for Studies in Economics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China
  • Received:2024-10-23 Revised:2025-01-25 Online:2025-04-15 Published:2025-04-10
  • Contact: DANG Xiaohong E-mail:15849581688@163.com;dangxiaohong1986@126.com

Abstract:

Plant-based sand-fixing agents are ecofriendly materials that effectively stabilize sand without polluting the soil, and their decomposition products promote plant growth. This study investigated the physical characteristics of consolidated layers formed by plant-based sand-fixing agents and their effects on soil water movement in sandy farmland using water infiltration and evaporation simulation experiments with three plant-based sand-fixing agents (Artemisia desertorum, flax, and black locust) and six application rates (0.5 g·m-2, 1.0 g·m-2, 2.0 g·m-2, 3.0 g·m-2, 4.0 g·m-2, and 5.0 g·m-2). Wind-sand soil sprayed with the same amount of pure water served as the control (CK). The results showed the following: (1) The soil physical properties were altered. The compressive strength of the consolidated layer was in the order of black locust >flax >Artemisia desertorum>CK. The average compressive strength of the consolidated layer treated with the three agents increased by 109.38%, 95.06%, and 58.46% compared with CK, respectively. The compressive strength of the same agent increased with concentration. Soil bulk density increased with higher application rates, with a maximum increase of 3.76% compared with CK. Meanwhile, the total porosity and saturated and minimum water-holding capacity decreased by up to 44.55%, 47.65%, and 53.62%, respectively, compared with CK. (2) The water infiltration rate was effectively reduced. The infiltration times were as follows: flax (29.53 min)≈black locust (29.52 min) >Artemisia desertorum (29.03 min) >CK (26.08 min). As the application rate increased, the infiltration time showed a U-shaped trend for black locust and flax agents, whereas Artemisia desertorum increased gradually. (3) The soil water evaporation rates were significantly reduced. For all three agents, the application rates of 2.0-4.0 g·m-2 demonstrated the most pronounced effects. (4) Application rates of 2.0-4.0 g·m-2 improved water retention and prevented excessively slow water infiltration. This study provides theoretical support for the exploration of new sand-fixing agents and their application in the prevention of wind erosion in sandy farmland soils.

Key words: plant sand fixing agent, characteristics of the consolidated layer, soil water transport, sandy cultivated land