Synopsis:
Wind erosion is considered a problem when the erosion level exceeds the tolerable limit for the soil or when the erosion level is great enough to damage the crops being grown. Wind erosion control must be tailored to each farming situation and may be achieved through a combination of practices that ultimately create isolated fields, the key to wind erosion control systems. Wind erosion control measures can be grouped into four components: (1) tree and shrub windbreaks; (2) annual and perennial vegetative barriers; (3) strip cropping and trap strips; and (4) crop residues and cover crops. Wind control system design involves 4 basic principles: (1) erosion rates are predicted using the wind erosion equation; (2) an isolated field condition must be established; (3) windbreaks and other wind barriers are oriented as perpendicular as possible to the prevailing wind direction; (4) the area completely protected by windbreaks is assumed to be a distance 10 times the height of the barrier downwind from the barrier along the prevailing wind direction.
Conclusions:
Wind control system design involves 4 basic principles: (1) erosion rates are predicted using the wind erosion equation; (2) an isolated field condition must be established; (3) windbreaks and other wind barriers are oriented as perpendicular as possible to the prevailing wind direction; (4) the area completely protected by windbreaks is assumed to be a distance 10 times the height of the barrier downwind from the barrier along the prevailing wind direction.
Thresholds/Learnings:
The area completely protected by windbreaks is assumed to be a distance 10 times the height of the barrier downwind from the barrier along the prevailing wind direction.