Stabilizing soils to prevent desertification and dust storms

Desertification impacts lives and land due to human activities and climate change. Soil stabilization is vital to combat desertification, reduce dust storm impacts, and preserve the environment for global sustainability.

1. STABILIZING SOILS TO
PREVENT DESERTIFICATION
AND DUST STORMS

2. INTRODUCTION
Desertification affects millions of
lives and vast land areas due to
human activities and climate
change. Soil stabilization
techniques are crucial to combat
desertification and reduce dust
storm impacts. The article
emphasizes the importance of
soil stabilization in
environmental preservation and
global sustainability efforts.

3. IMPORTANCE OF SOIL
STABILIZATION
Stabilizing soils helps counter desertification
by combating dust storms. Soil stabilization
strategies aim to improve soil structure,
increase vegetation coverage, and reduce
erosion. Proper soil stabilization restores
damaged land and improves sustainable land
use by supporting ecosystems and
encouraging sustainable land-use practices.

4. 85%
SOIL STABILIZATION TECHNIQUES
The following techniques can help stabilize the soil,
improve soil quality, and mitigate desertification.
Trees and shrubs can be incorporated in the agricultural
landscape by integrating agroforestry systems for soil
fertility, reduced water runoff, or enhanced biodiversity.
Alley cropping and windbreaks are agroforestry systems
that offer numerous benefits, such as erosion control and
microclimate stabilization.
Agroforestry
They include no-till farming, mulching, and cover
cropping; all these are activities that help in the
retention of soil moisture and generally improve the
amount of organic material that may be developed.
They improve the general structure of the soil, hence
decreasing erosion and thus encouraging
sustainable agriculture.
Soil Conservation Practices

5. WATER
HARVESTING AND
MANAGEMENT
The techniques of rainwater harvesting
and check dams store the rainwater
and help get it recharged in
groundwater, which, in turn, assists
moisture content in the soil. Adequate
water management thus promotes
vegetation growth, enhances green
cover, and reduces soil instability in
arid and semi-arid regions.

6. POLYMER-BASED SOIL
STABILIZATION
Soil stabilization polymers improve soil quality and
prevent erosion, combating desertification. Various
polymer-based materials like bio polyesters,
biobased copolymers, and microbial polymers have
been studied for their effectiveness. They enhance
soil structure, fertility, and combat erosion.
Innovative solutions include polyelectrolytic gels
and biomass-derived polymers. While polymers are
easy to apply and compatible with all soils, they can
be messy, short-lived, and require large quantities.
Products like Soil Stabilization Plus by EP&A
Envirotac, Inc. offer effective soil stabilization and
dust control solutions.

7. Chlorides like magnesium chloride and calcium
chloride stabilize unpaved roads by capturing soil
moisture, creating a hard, dust-free surface. They
are cost-effective but need frequent re-application
and raise environmental concerns due to high
chloride levels introduced.
CHLORIDES

8. LIME AND CEMENT
SOIL STABILIZATION
Lime and cement soil stabilization is a method where the
respective binder is mixed with material to gain strength.
Lime is a natural binder, whereas cement is synthetic. It is a
widely used method in paved road construction as a result
of its high durability and strength. It works well with most
soils but requires extensive soil testing and also proper
management of the moisture content in it. Lime and
cement stabilization is long-lasting and durable and dries
wet soils. On the other hand, it is expensive and has high
labor costs and health hazards due to inhaling fine powder,
and its usage is mainly concerned with paved roads.
Among various soil stabilization methods and materials,
lime and cement stand out for their effectiveness despite
their drawbacks.

9. FLY ASH SOIL
STABILIZATION
Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired power plants,
which is used as an agent of bonding and for
increasing the strength of soil. Economically, it is
viable compared to lime or cement; it performs well
in soil that has a high moisture content. There are
two classes: Class C - cementitious and pozzolanic
and class F - only pozzolanic properties. Primarily, fly
ash finds its use in the subbase of paved roads. While
fly ash is a permanent and long-lasting solution, and
it works well with most soils, it raises health concerns
as a result of inhalation risks, is highly labor-intensive
in application, and its availability depends on coal-
fired power plants.

10. MECHANICAL SOIL STABILIZATION
Mechanical soil stabilization is the modification of
the physical properties of the soil through
compaction to interlock particles. This method
may be used as is or, often, contemporarily with
another technique since it is extremely labor-
intensive and time-consuming. This method is
permanent and friendly to the environment, but it
can be costly and seldom used on its own and is
no longer a popular standalone method.
The technique will depend on the goal you want to
achieve, but one must keep in mind the
consequences of the soil stabilization technique
employed.

11. THANK YOU
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