Investigation the application of saline waters in Segzi Plain with emphasis on the wind erosion control

East of Isfahan City, especially around Segzi Plain is one of the desert areas of the country that due to the flatness and soils sensitivity to wind erosion, there is high susceptibility to wind erosion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using saline water of Segzi Plain and its effect on the soil strength properties, crust formation and its stability against wind erosion. In order to conduct this research, five soil samples with different textures were collected from top soil surface and were transferred to the laboratory along obtained saline water sample from surface aquifer. After determining some of the physical and chemical properties of samples, they were examined in wind tunnel with specified velocity for soil erosion tests. The first soil sample was flooded with saline water and the rest were treated with either spraying of undiluted saline water or spraying of diluted saline water with 2 to 1, 1 to 1 and 1 to 2 ratios of saline water to water. In this regard, parameters such as salinity of saline water, erosion threshold velocity of dried treated soil samples, maximum dry density, thickness, strength and sieve analysis of the crusts were determined. The results indicated that, as the salinity of saline water increases, the strength, thickness and maximum dry density of forming crust and wind erosion threshold velocity also increases in the model. Analysis of variance used to investigate the effects of soil texture, salinity of saline water, crust thickness and threshold velocity to control wind erosion showed significant difference in 1% level. Sample C1 with the highest percentage of fine grains had threshold velocity of 11 m.s-1, but sampleE1 with the lowest percentage of fine grains had threshold velocity 6.23 m.s-1. The presence of a high amount of sodium makes restrictions on the possibility of using saline water as mulch scientifically and practically but the results showed that the use of saline water can increase the density of dirt roads.