INFLUENCE OF PLANT RESIDUE ON SAND FLOW IN A WIND TUNNEL

Abstract

A wind tunnel was used to study the effect of various amounts of standing wheat stubble on sand flow. In general, the relationship between sand flow and the amount of wheat stubble tended to be sigmoidal. There was an initial phase when small amounts of stubble had very little effect on sand flow, followed by a very rapid decrease in flow when additional increments of stubble were added to the surface. Sand flow approached zero at stubble rates ranging from 1,200 kg/ha for a wind velocity of 5.36 m/sec to 7,200 kg/ha for a wind velocity of 8.49 m/sec. At a wind velocity of 10.28 m/sec the addition of 1,800 kg/ha of wheat stubble tended to increase sand flow.