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Abstract
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Article Information:
Wind Reduction Patterns Around Isolated Biomass for Wind-Erosion Control in a Desertified Area of Central Sudan
N.K.N. Al-Amin, C.J. Stigter and A.E. Mohammed
Corresponding Author: Nawal Khidir Nasr Al-Amin
Submitted: 2010 June, 29
Accepted: 2010 July, 23
Published: 2010 October, 05 |
Abstract:
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The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of sparse vegetation, feature common in arid
zone, to reduce wind force (velocity) and hence protect the surface and regions downwind from drifting sand
and their consequences. Respectively 4 (with heights h of 4, 3.2, 2 and 1.66 m), 2 (with h of 3 and 2.5 m) and
3 (with h of 1.04, 0.9 and 0.8 m ) well established single biomass configurations of Leptadenia pyrotechnica
trees, Prosopis juliflora trees and Panicum turgidum grass, were selected in the field. Solar powered cup
anemometer wind measurements with a data logger system were taken at heights of 0.25 and 0.5 h, at distances
0.5 and 1 h, at four sides of the tree in the prevailing wind direction and perpendicular to it, and additionally
at 2, 4 and 6 h windward and leeward. The protection effectiveness of the biomass was calculated as a wind
reduction ratio and in terms of objects protection, which was evaluated using the dimensionless protection index
(ƒ). The study showed that windward protection provided by Leptadenia and Prosopis at level 0.25h and
distance 0.5 h was similar, w ith a wind reduction ratio R0.8, while Panicum showed comparably higher
R-values. Even at the 0.5 h level, Panicum showed an R of 0.65 at 0.5 h distance. Leew ard, at 0.25 h level
differences were small, R increasing from 0.6/0.7 to 0.8/1 with distance, Leptadenia protecting best. At higher
level (0.5 h) at distances 0.5 and 1 h Prosopis gave better protection than the other two at distances 0.5, 1 and
2 h. The research is an exam ple of simple experimental work under difficult environmental conditions in Africa.
It was part of studies in which additional attention was paid to quantification aspects under such conditions as
well as to the problems it helped solve in the African societies concerned as agrometeorological services.
Key words: Arid, desertification, adenia pyrotechnica, cum turgidum, Prosopis juliflora, sparse,
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Cite this Reference:
N.K.N. Al-Amin, C.J. Stigter and A.E. Mohammed, . Wind Reduction Patterns Around Isolated Biomass for Wind-Erosion Control in a Desertified Area of Central Sudan. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (4): Page No: 226-234.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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