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EVALUATION OF WIND EROSION CONTROL PRACTICES AT A PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER STATION WITHIN A SANDY AREA OF NORTHWEST, CHINA
  • +7
  • Chun Wang,
  • Robert L. Hill,
  • Ch Bu,
  • Bingyin Li,
  • Fang Yuan,
  • Yanzhe Yang,
  • Senpeng Yuan,
  • Zhenshi Zhang,
  • Yongxiang Cao,
  • Kankan Zhang
Chun Wang
Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Robert L. Hill
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
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Ch Bu
Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University
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Bingyin Li
Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University
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Fang Yuan
Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University
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Yanzhe Yang
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources
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Senpeng Yuan
Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University
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Zhenshi Zhang
Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited of Power China
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Yongxiang Cao
Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited of Power China
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Kankan Zhang
Shaanxi Lvtuo Eco-environment Engineering Co., Ltd.
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Abstract

The widespread construction of photovoltaic (PV) power stations within northwest China poses an environmental threat because of severe wind erosion and land degradation attributed to unique wind control issues caused by the power stations. In this study, various engineering (E), plant (V), and biocrust (B) treatments were evaluated for their effectiveness in the reduction of wind erosion. The placement of solar panels with wide wind inlets and narrow wind outlets caused wind velocity reductions at the inlet that sharply increased at the outlet and formed distinct zones of deflation, direct shear abrasion (DSA), and deposition. The engineering treatments reduced the wind velocities and sand transport rates, in comparison to the control with E4 (DSA zone + a gravel/deposition zone + red clay) being the most effective with an 87% reduction in the total sand transport rate. Both plant treatments V1 (Sedum aizoon L.) and V2 (Pennisetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng) increased the aerodynamic roughness, and decreased the sand transport rates and the sand erosion-deposition budget under or between the solar panels. Treatment B2 (moss crust) decreased the sand transport rate and sand erosion-deposition budget under the solar panels in comparison to the control. All the treatments had effects on reducing wind erosion, and we strongly recommend the use of moss crust, gravel mulch, and red clay mulch in the deflation zones, DSA zones, and deposition zones, respectively, to control the severe wind erosion at these PV power stations located in sandy areas.
07 Mar 2020Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
07 Mar 2020Submission Checks Completed
07 Mar 2020Assigned to Editor
07 Mar 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
31 Mar 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Apr 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
23 Jun 20201st Revision Received
23 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
23 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
11 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
05 Sep 20202nd Revision Received
07 Sep 2020Submission Checks Completed
07 Sep 2020Assigned to Editor
26 Oct 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
30 Oct 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
25 Nov 20203rd Revision Received
25 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
25 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
25 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Accept