Li, Zuoyong , Wu, Chuangzhou , Shi, Zhenming , Zhang, Yujing , Komelkova, Maria
2026-11-01 SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH 2026 263(卷), null(期), (null页)
Wind erosion is a major driver of land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions. Conventional straw checkerboard barriers often deteriorate under intense wind-sand abrasion, shortening service life and increasing maintenance demands. A triangular enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP)-cemented sand barrier is proposed. The barrier was constructed by shaping in situ desert sand into ridges with side slopes close to the angle of repose and spraying an EICP solution to form a cemented crust. Field experiments in the Minqin Desert, China, quantified wind-speed reduction and sand-control performance. The barriers markedly enhanced the load-bearing capacity and wind-erosion resistance of desert sand. Under a cementation solution (CS) concentration of 1.0 mol/L, an MgCl2 addition of 0.05 mol/L, and a spraying volume of 3 L/m2, a continuous and mechanically stable crust formed, yielding a penetration resistance of 547 kPa and remaining above 310 kPa after 50 days. After 50 days of natural wind exposure, net deposition dominated within barrier cells and increased with surface strength. Cementation of the within-cell sand surface further promoted deposition and modified near-surface temperature and moisture conditions. Reducing barrier spacing created a more continuous low-wind-speed corridor and increased the mean wind-speed reduction rate. SEM images indicate that performance is governed by carbonate nucleation and deposition, which control the continuity and stability of the cementation network. These results suggest that EICP-cemented sand barriers are a promising option for mitigating wind erosion in desert environments.