Simulation of wind forces and erosion in a field with windbreaks

A series of vegetative windbreaks across a field will reduce wind velocities near the surface, thus reducing the capacity of the wind to transport soil particles,The height, width, and projected stem and leaf surface area of windbreaks wilt determine the reduction in wind velocity and wind erosion,The objective of this study was to develop a model to assist in the design of barrier systems by considering the total mass flux of saltating particles across a uniform field consisting of a series of windbreaks, By assuming that the net force available to entrain grains varies linearly with total mass flux, a one-dimensional steady state equation is derived to predict the entrainment rate of saltation-sized particles across a field with windbreaks, Deposition of saltating particles is assumed to be a function of the mean trajectory length, The total mass flux of saltating particles is predicted for a series of sorghum windbreaks, For agricultural fields, the principal benefit of windbreaks is to reduce the total mass flux of saltating particles across a field since this would lead to the decreased emission of suspendible particles. For the field simulated in this study, the projected surface area of plant material and windbreak height, orientation, and width strongly influenced the predicted saltation flux and maximum deposition,The model also predicts a decrease in field-averaged saltation flux with decreasing barrier porosities and that, in a given field, a series of many short windbreaks is more effective in reducing saltation flux than a series of a few tall windbreaks.