Purpose In northeast China’s agricultural region, dry and windy spring conditions, low surface cover, and loose soils lead to strong wind erosion, which removes fine particles and causes soil coarsening, severely degrading soil structure and fertility and ultimately threatening regional food production and ecological security. Northeast China is primarily categorized into three erosion regions, with Arenosol, Phaeozem, and Chernozem as the representative soil types for these regions. However, differences in wind erosion characteristics among these soil types remain unclear. Materials and methods This study conducted wind tunnel laboratory experiments that measured the wind erosion characteristics and physicochemical properties of residual surface soil in the trough for Arenosol, Chernozem, and Phaeozem. Results Results showed that wind erosion intensity significantly increased with wind velocity in all the soil types (p < 0.05). The wind erosion intensity of Arenosol, Chernozem, and Phaeozem increased 2.4–4.0, 1.4–3.6, and 0.6–2.3 times, respectively, at wind velocities of 12 and 15 m s⁻¹ relative to that at 9 m s⁻¹. Sediment transport height increased by 6–18 cm for Arenosol, 10–12 cm for Chernozem, and 12–14 cm for Phaeozem at wind velocities of 12 and 15 m s⁻¹ relative to that at 9 m s⁻¹. The proportion of aggregates smaller than 0.25 mm (WT< 0.25 mm) significantly decreased in all the soil types at increasing wind velocity (p < 0.05). The WT< 0.25 mm decreased by 8.0%–33.2% for Arenosol, 7.5%–20% for Chernozem, and 7.9%–22.8% for Phaeozem at 9–15 m s⁻¹ wind velocities relative to that at 0 m s⁻¹. Additionally, C and N content decreased in all the soil types at increasing wind velocity. Structural equation modeling results demonstrated that wind velocity directly or indirectly influenced wind erosion intensity by altering the soil properties of the three soil types. Conclusion WT< 0.25 mm, sand content, and clay content played important roles in altering wind erosion intensity in Arenosol, Chernozem, and Phaeozem, respectively. The findings provide a theoretical basis for targeted soil conservation strategies that mitigate wind erosion and enhance agricultural sustainability in northeast China.

Wind erosion characteristics of three representative soil types in Northeast China according to indoor simulation experiments

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年2月9日

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Meng Li,
Wei Hu,
Haiyu Li,
Meiyue Wang

摘要

Purpose

In northeast China’s agricultural region, dry and windy spring conditions, low surface cover, and loose soils lead to strong wind erosion, which removes fine particles and causes soil coarsening, severely degrading soil structure and fertility and ultimately threatening regional food production and ecological security. Northeast China is primarily categorized into three erosion regions, with Arenosol, Phaeozem, and Chernozem as the representative soil types for these regions. However, differences in wind erosion characteristics among these soil types remain unclear.

Materials and methods

This study conducted wind tunnel laboratory experiments that measured the wind erosion characteristics and physicochemical properties of residual surface soil in the trough for Arenosol, Chernozem, and Phaeozem.

Results

Results showed that wind erosion intensity significantly increased with wind velocity in all the soil types (p < 0.05). The wind erosion intensity of Arenosol, Chernozem, and Phaeozem increased 2.4–4.0, 1.4–3.6, and 0.6–2.3 times, respectively, at wind velocities of 12 and 15 m s⁻¹ relative to that at 9 m s⁻¹. Sediment transport height increased by 6–18 cm for Arenosol, 10–12 cm for Chernozem, and 12–14 cm for Phaeozem at wind velocities of 12 and 15 m s⁻¹ relative to that at 9 m s⁻¹. The proportion of aggregates smaller than 0.25 mm (WT_< 0.25 mm) significantly decreased in all the soil types at increasing wind velocity (p < 0.05). The WT_< 0.25 mm decreased by 8.0%–33.2% for Arenosol, 7.5%–20% for Chernozem, and 7.9%–22.8% for Phaeozem at 9–15 m s⁻¹ wind velocities relative to that at 0 m s⁻¹. Additionally, C and N content decreased in all the soil types at increasing wind velocity. Structural equation modeling results demonstrated that wind velocity directly or indirectly influenced wind erosion intensity by altering the soil properties of the three soil types.

Conclusion

WT_< 0.25 mm, sand content, and clay content played important roles in altering wind erosion intensity in Arenosol, Chernozem, and Phaeozem, respectively. The findings provide a theoretical basis for targeted soil conservation strategies that mitigate wind erosion and enhance agricultural sustainability in northeast China.