Controlling Sand Movement Through Mechanical Measures: China’s Experience - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 23

Types Functions

Covering dunes
with earth
Covering dunes
with mud
Covering dunes
with cobblestone
Covering dunes
with straw
Covering dunes with
emulsified asphalt
Covering dunes
with high polymer

1

2

Complete cover

3

4

Surface
barriers

To stabilize
sand dunes

5

6

Belt cover

7

Mechanical
barriers

Dense
structure

8

9
10
11

Windproof
structure

Standing
barriers

To heap up
blown sand

Ventilating
structure

12

13

Fig. 2.2 Type of mechanical measure and its function

of local materials-straws, stalks, earth clay cobble stones among others is usually
adopted. The cost of setting up such barriers is low as all the material for setting the
barriers are abundant and locally available. This means that surface sand barriers
can be easily utilized in such areas.
In controlling sand in some priority projects for example sand control for
railway lines, emulsified asphalt has been used. However, this material is not locally
available and its cost is relatively high. It is therefore not a suitable choice for general
use. The following are some common surface barriers materials used in China.

3.1 Covering Sand Dunes with Earth or Mud

Local people living in the sandy areas cover sand dunes with earth or mud. The
main function of the barriers is to protect agricultural production by stabilizing a
sand dune that threatens adjoining agricultural land.