Investigation of biopolymer mulch effects on water holding capacity in sand (case study: sand dunes of Kashan)

Wind erosion is one of the most important aspects of land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions, which 20% of land area of the world has been influenced by wind erosion. The wind increases the desertification process by displacing sand dunes. Therefore, the stabilizition and preventing the moving sands is essential. A strategy to combat this phenomenon is to reduce wind speed or to increase surface cover and soil resistance against erosion winds. The application of mulch or soil cover is one of the methods widely used to stabilize moving sands. For this purpose, a study was done at the Research Station International Desert Research Centre in Kashan city. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Multivariate biopolymer treatment at three concentrations (15%, 30% and 60%) on the moisture content of three sand depths (first depth of 0-5 cm, second depth of 5-10 cm and depth of third 10-20 cm), and study this mulch Compared with levels without mulch on the sand. Results showed soil moisture retention in Mulching compared to the control treatment, and statistically, there was significant differences between different depths of soil moisture Mulching compared to the control treatment and in between the first, second and third depths, the first depth had the highest increase in moisture holding compared to the Control treatment.