SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE PERIODIC VARIATIONS OF MOISTURE IN STABILIZED AND UNSTABILIZED SAND DUNES OF THE INDIAN DESERT

During 1974-1976 the dynamics of moisture was studied in stabilised and unstabilised sand dunes of the Bikaner region. Maximum moisture in both the stabilised and unstabilised sand dunes was observed during the rainy season. At the end of the dry season, during the period of peak evaporation, i.e. June, the unstabilised sand dunes still contained an average of 2-5% moisture at 30-180 cm depth compared to 1% or less in the stabilised dunes. At this time of the year, the total profile moisture storage in the unstabilised dunes varied from 50 to 70 mm while in the stabilised dunes it ranged from 12 to 23 mm. © 1979.