Wind Erosion Curtailed by Controlling Mesquite

Abstract

A sand-dune mesquite area with very little interdunal vegetation was treated aerially one to three times with 2,4,5-T at 0.56 kg/ha in an oil:water emulsion. Four and five years after the initial treatment, the amount of blowing soil was evaluated using sandtraps located at various distances from the boundary between sprayed and unsprayed mesquite. The amount of wind-blown particles was greatly reduced on the area chemically treated to control mesquite. During the windy season the amount of blowing soil in the unsprayed area was more than 15-fold greater than at 180 m into the sprayed area. Intermediate amounts were measured between the boundary and 180 m into the treated area.