Estimating the amount of soil lost to wind erosion, both temporally and spatially in Basra Governorate, using sand traps

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in three different locations in Basra Governorate (Umm Qasr, Al-Shuaiba, and Al-Qurna). Sand traps were installed at different heights above the soil surface: 0.05, 0.35, 0.70, 1.05, and 2 m. The poles containing the traps were installed, with three replicates for each trap, to estimate the amount of soil lost by vertical distribution, and determine the predominant types of soil particle movement at each location. The amount of soil lost in these traps was calculated at each location, from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The results showed that the highest value of soil loss was at the Umm Qasr location (5.314 µg ha^-1 yr^-1). The lowest value of soil loss was at Al-Qurna location (0.008 µg ha^-1 yr^-1). As for the different heights where the traps were installed, height H1 (0.05 m) yielded the highest soil loss (6.286 µg ha^-1 yr^-1). Height H5 (2 m) yielded the lowest value (0.041 µg ha^-1 yr^-1).