Researchn the applicationf palm mat geotextiles for sand fixation in the hobq desert

Abstract

Traditionalandixation measures have many limitations. Forxample,ngineeringandixation measures using barriers cannot completelytabilizeand dunes. Biologicalandixation measures utilizing planted vegetation are very difficult to build during thearlytagesf desertification control.hemicalandixation measurespray chemically bonded materialsnand dunes toorm a consolidated layer to preventandlow, but the costf the materials used iselatively high. Therefore, newandixation technologies and methods urgently need to be developed. Thistudy demonstrates a newandixation method, which uses palm mat geotextiles totabilizeand dunes and to plant grass. We investigated the physical propertiesf these palm mat geotextiles in the laboratory andbserved vegetation growth in the Hobq Desert. Theesultshowed theollowing: (1) Palm mat geotextiles are lighter and tougher than commontraw mat geotextiles. The average weight, thickness, and tensiletrengthf palm mat geotextiles are 2023 g/m2, 20.14 mm, and 842-860 kPa,espectively. After a yearfieldbservations, the tensiletrength decreased bynly 2%. (2) Palm mat geotextiles havexcellent wateretention capacity andcouringesistance; the maximum water contenteached 227%, and theubstrate lost 2.9% after laboratoryimulationf heavyainfallor three hours with aainfall intensityf 30 mm h-1. (3) Palm mat geotextilesignificantly decreased theoil temperature and increased moisture inummer. Theesultshowed that the palm mat geotextiles had the largest influencenoil temperature in the upper 5 cmfoil and the largest influencenoil moisture in the upper 10 cmfoil. (4) Theieldxperimentalesultshowed that, by thendf thexperiment, the vegetation coverage and the biomassf the palm mat geotextiles with dimensionsf 2 × 2 m were 3.9 times and 4.1 times thatf the control group and 1.7 times and 1.8 times thatf the groupf high-banded Salix psammophilaand barriers, which are widely used in the Hobq Desert at present. Palm mat geotextiles are a promising materialorandixation in the Hobq Desert.