Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas
IntroductionPlanted forests are of great significance in reducing wind erosion and controlling degraded land, and are the main measure to improve the ecological environment in arid and semi-arid areas. Afforestation is mainly based on tall trees, but forest belts consume a large amount of water, bri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1347714/full |
| _version_ | 1797272544686899200 |
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| author | Shuai Zhang Shuai Zhang Weijie Yuan Weijie Yuan Yi Yu Yi Yu Yaoxiang Zhang Yaoxiang Zhang Weinan Wang Luzhen Wang Ying Yang Ying Yang Haixia Wang Haixia Wang |
| author_facet | Shuai Zhang Shuai Zhang Weijie Yuan Weijie Yuan Yi Yu Yi Yu Yaoxiang Zhang Yaoxiang Zhang Weinan Wang Luzhen Wang Ying Yang Ying Yang Haixia Wang Haixia Wang |
| author_sort | Shuai Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionPlanted forests are of great significance in reducing wind erosion and controlling degraded land, and are the main measure to improve the ecological environment in arid and semi-arid areas. Afforestation is mainly based on tall trees, but forest belts consume a large amount of water, bringing significant pressure to the environmental carrying capacity. While shrubs generally consume less water than do trees, it remains understudied what role shrubs play in configuration of shelterbelts in arid areas.MethodsIn this study, we conducted wind tunnel simulation experiments with the common used afforestation tree species Populus popularis and shrub species Salix psammophila. We set up single- or double-belt pure forest and mixed tree/shrub configurations, to analyze their effects on the wind speed, flow field, and wind prevention efficiency of different forest belt types.ResultsThe results showed that: 1) the wind erosion resistance of the double-belt shelter forest was stronger than that of a single-belt forest. 2) Shelterbelts consisting of trees had a strong resistance to airflow disturbances, but their protective effect was reflected mainly in the canopy layer, with poor near-surface protection. 3) Shelterbelts consisting of shrubs had a good protective effect within effective height, and the wind speed in the double-shrub forest belt was 77% of that in the single-tree forest belt. 4) The wind prevention efficiency within the shrub forest belt was better than that of the tree forest belt, with wind prevention efficiency exceeding 40% in most double-shrub forests. Shrubs as a supplement to trees could increase the minimum wind prevention efficiency by up to 30%.DiscussionTherefore, the role of shrubs should be emphasized in afforestation in arid areas, especially in areas that need near-surface protection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:30:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ab08c1612d84afb9ef1de5792acbca8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:30:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ab08c1612d84afb9ef1de5792acbca82024-03-06T04:52:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2024-03-011210.3389/fevo.2024.13477141347714Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areasShuai Zhang0Shuai Zhang1Weijie Yuan2Weijie Yuan3Yi Yu4Yi Yu5Yaoxiang Zhang6Yaoxiang Zhang7Weinan Wang8Luzhen Wang9Ying Yang10Ying Yang11Haixia Wang12Haixia Wang13Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaNational Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, ChinaExperimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaNational Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, ChinaExperimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaNational Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, ChinaExperimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaNational Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, ChinaChinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaQinghai Provincial Investigation, Design & Research Institute of Water Conservancy & Hydropower Co., Ltd., Xining, ChinaExperimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaNational Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, ChinaExperimental Center of Forestry in North China, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, ChinaNational Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Beijing, ChinaIntroductionPlanted forests are of great significance in reducing wind erosion and controlling degraded land, and are the main measure to improve the ecological environment in arid and semi-arid areas. Afforestation is mainly based on tall trees, but forest belts consume a large amount of water, bringing significant pressure to the environmental carrying capacity. While shrubs generally consume less water than do trees, it remains understudied what role shrubs play in configuration of shelterbelts in arid areas.MethodsIn this study, we conducted wind tunnel simulation experiments with the common used afforestation tree species Populus popularis and shrub species Salix psammophila. We set up single- or double-belt pure forest and mixed tree/shrub configurations, to analyze their effects on the wind speed, flow field, and wind prevention efficiency of different forest belt types.ResultsThe results showed that: 1) the wind erosion resistance of the double-belt shelter forest was stronger than that of a single-belt forest. 2) Shelterbelts consisting of trees had a strong resistance to airflow disturbances, but their protective effect was reflected mainly in the canopy layer, with poor near-surface protection. 3) Shelterbelts consisting of shrubs had a good protective effect within effective height, and the wind speed in the double-shrub forest belt was 77% of that in the single-tree forest belt. 4) The wind prevention efficiency within the shrub forest belt was better than that of the tree forest belt, with wind prevention efficiency exceeding 40% in most double-shrub forests. Shrubs as a supplement to trees could increase the minimum wind prevention efficiency by up to 30%.DiscussionTherefore, the role of shrubs should be emphasized in afforestation in arid areas, especially in areas that need near-surface protection.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1347714/fullarid and semi-arid areasselection strategywind speed flow fieldwind tunnel simulationwindproof efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Shuai Zhang Shuai Zhang Weijie Yuan Weijie Yuan Yi Yu Yi Yu Yaoxiang Zhang Yaoxiang Zhang Weinan Wang Luzhen Wang Ying Yang Ying Yang Haixia Wang Haixia Wang Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution arid and semi-arid areas selection strategy wind speed flow field wind tunnel simulation windproof efficiency |
| title | Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas |
| title_full | Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas |
| title_fullStr | Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas |
| title_short | Shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas |
| title_sort | shrubs plays an important role in configuration of shelterbelt in windy and sandy areas |
| topic | arid and semi-arid areas selection strategy wind speed flow field wind tunnel simulation windproof efficiency |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1347714/full |
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