Source control and management
Source management
Human activities (e.g., agricultural practices, extractive industries, hydrological and infrastructure development, unsustainable land and water management) can degrade vegetation cover and expose soil to wind erosion. These activities are contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of sand and dust storms (SDS) occurring today. The impacts of climate change (e.g., drought) are a significant risk multiplier for SDS emissions, altering regional weather patterns and increasing atmospheric evaporative demand, which pose further challenges to SDS source management.
This module contains an inventory of tools, technologies, and good practices to inform decision-makers and other stakeholders about both nature-based and artificial or engineered solutions. These include potential, experimental, and proven SDS source management interventions. Below, in alphabetical order, is the list of all the practices currently in the inventory. Each practice is hyperlinked to a webpage containing a description of the practice with references and good practice guidance, as well as photos and cases studies when available. The keyword search function and filters to the left can be used to refine searches.
Inventory of tools, technologies and good practices
Keyword
Afforestation is the practice of establishing a tree plantation or a new forest on land that has never been forested before, or that has been without trees for a long time. Reforestation, on the other hand, is the practice of regenerating forests and woodlands that have been destroyed or degraded…
In agrivoltaics, agricultural production such as crops, livestock or pollinator habitats are located underneath or between rows of solar panels. In croplands, for example, solar panels can be installed vertically and at varying heights to promote plant growth and reduce wind speeds by up to 40% (up…
Agroforestry is the collective term for land use systems and practices that deliberately integrate woody perennials, such as trees and shrubs, with crops and/or animals within the same management unit. Trees and shrubs, along with their understorey vegetation and leaf litter, protect soils from…
Artificial surface roughness refers to structures designed to increase aerodynamic resistance and reduce near-surface wind speeds below the friction velocity threshold required for dust emissions to occur. These structures can be natural or man-made and provide an immediate physical barrier while…
Artificial windbreaks (also known as wind fences or sand fences) are permeable structures designed to reduce wind speeds and trap airborne or shifting sediments. They are typically made from synthetic, heat- and sun-resistant netting stretched across evenly spaced wooden or metal slats. Similar to…
Biocrust inoculation/restoration involves applying cyanobacteria, algae, mosses and/or lichens to create or re-establish biological soil crusts, which stabilise and cover bare ground. Biocrusts cover approximately 12% of the global land surface, primarily in drylands, and can play a crucial role in…
The brine cap method involves flooding areas with highly saline water (brine). When this evaporates, it leaves behind a solid salt crust that seals the soil and significantly reduces its vulnerability to wind erosion. Although brine capping is considered suitable for both sandy and clay-rich soils,…
Clay spreading involves mixing or covering sandy soils or sand dunes with clay-rich material to bind the particles together to form stable aggregates. This creates a surface layer with improved cohesion and moisture retention capacity, which limits the potential for emissions and creates favourable…
Cocoon planting is a dryland restoration technique in which individual seeds or seedlings are planted in small, doughnut-shaped boxes. Also known as water box planting, this practice is designed to improve tree survival in arid and semi-arid environments by slowly releasing moisture to the roots…
Conservation tillage is a cultivation system that reduces soil disturbance and retains at least 30% of crop residue on the surface after planting, in order to minimise water and wind erosion. These practices can be employed as part of the transition from conventional tillage to conservation…
Controlled environment agriculture is a technology-driven practice that manipulates environmental factors, such as lighting, temperature, humidity, water and nutrients, to optimise crop growth and yield. Horticultural production takes place within protective structures, such as vertical farms,…
Crop rotation is the practice of growing different plant species in a specific order in the same field over successive growing seasons. The sequence can be designed and managed to minimise the exposure of bare soil to wind erosion. The succession of varied root structures can also reduce the…
Dust palliatives, often referred to as chemical dust suppressants, are a range of products that bind soil particles or form protective surface films to retain moisture and reduce dust emissions. Chemical dust suppressants are typically used as part of a short-term source mitigation strategy for…
Erosion control blankets are permeable textile mats woven from natural, biodegradable materials such as jute, coir or burlap. They are anchored to vulnerable land surfaces to increase soil stability and reduce wind and water erosion. This method is considered to be a cost-effective way of reducing…
Assisted natural regeneration is the broad term used to describe the protection and preservation of woody vegetation that regenerates naturally on forest land, abandoned agricultural land, or in livestock exclosures. Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a similar practice, typically…
Grass strips are rows of perennial, native or locally adapted grasses that are usually planted at right angles to the prevailing wind direction on field margins or along contours. These strips act as a buffer, reducing surface wind speeds, capturing saltating particles, and stabilising the soil in…
Gravel mulching involves permanently covering the soil with a layer of crushed stones or pebbles, sometimes mixed with coarse sand. This practice reduces near-surface wind speeds (below the friction velocity threshold) and limits the formation of efflorescent salts that can become airborne dust…
Intercropping is the practice of growing different crops simultaneously in the same field. Alternating rows of tall and short crops, such as wheat and potatoes, reduces wind velocity and traps soil particles. Intercropping with perennial crops (also known as 'live mulching') can reduce…
Limiting vehicle access/speed can significantly reduce dust emissions. This relatively simple, low-cost practice can be implemented on industrial and construction sites, as well as in natural areas vulnerable to wind erosion. The effects are immediately observable, particularly in dry conditions,…
Livestock exclosures restrict access to land, ensuring that browsing animals and vehicles are excluded by fencing or other means. This allows vegetation, soil microbiota, and/or biocrusts to re-establish themselves naturally, and reduces disturbances that can generate dust emissions in vulnerable…
Mechanical surface roughening involves ploughing deep furrows in the soil to reduce wind speeds at the surface by increasing roughness and trapping particles to create soil aggregates. It is a technique used to create unevenness in bare soil, reducing erosion potential by decreasing runoff…
Microcatchment rainwater harvesting involves creating structures in the landscape, either manually or mechanically, to trap localised runoff and increase soil moisture for agricultural use and to sustain ecosystems. Such structures have been central to sustainable land management practices for…
Natural windbreaks are linear plantings of trees and shrubs that slow down the speed of ground winds and reduce soil erosion. Also known as shelterbelts, hedgerows, or living fences, these vegetative features dissipate ground wind force, reducing SDS emissions and creating favourable conditions for…
Organic mulching involves covering the topsoil with plant material, such as leaves, grass clippings, twigs, crop residues, or straw. This creates a physical barrier that reduces the ability of wind to lift soil particles, thereby reducing wind erosion by an order of magnitude in some cases. It…
Organic soil amendments are plant or animal materials added to soil to improve its physical, chemical, and biological properties, such as compost, manure, biochar, and soil bacteria (see organic mulching and biocrust inoculation/restoration). These amendments enhance soil structure and health,…
Perennial crops are characterised by their ability to regrow after harvest. There are many varieties of perennial vegetables, grains, and forage crops. These crops typically do not require tillage (see conservation tillage) and have a longer growing season than their annual counterparts, providing…
Polylactic acid (PLA) sand barriers are cylindrical textile tubes made of biodegradable fabric. They are filled with sand to form checkerboard barriers. These low barriers are used to create checkerboard patterns that reduce ground wind speeds, trap saltating sands and airborne seeds, and stabilise…
Revegetation, also known as vegetation rehabilitation or restoration, involves planting locally adapted grass and shrub species to establish a stable, self-sustaining ecosystem resembling the original environment. This can also increase surface roughness and thus reduce ground-level wind speed. The…
Straw checkerboards involve pressing straw from wheat, rice, and other plants into sandy soil in a checkerboard shape, with one half buried and one half exposed. This increases surface roughness, which reduces wind erosion. Checkerboards can also be designed to trap sand and soil in order to…
Surface flooding involves using water delivery systems, such as lateral pipes, bubblers or distributed sprinklers, to apply water until at least 75% of the treatment area is covered. This method is highly effective at reducing dust emissions because standing water completely suppresses particles…
Surface wetting involves using irrigation systems or water trucks to dampen the soil in SDS source areas. This increases soil moisture, strengthening the cohesive forces that bind fine particles together and making them less likely to be entrained by the wind, thereby reducing dust emissions. At…
Sustainable grazing involves managing livestock to enhance the long-term health and productivity of the land by mimicking natural grazing patterns, in which herbivores play a vital role in shaping the landscape. It involves controlling the density, timing, and duration of livestock on pasture in…