Losses due to wind erosion

1. Drifting of dust particles:

• The sand particles are blown by wind and deposited on good fertile land cover up the soil.
• Grasses, trees, shrubs and hedges may be smothered or buried.
• Railways and roads are sometimes blocked by drifting sand or soil and this incurs assed maintenance costs.

2. Damage to crops:

• Crop damage, particularly in the seedling stage, serious stand and subsequent yield and quality
• losses are incurred and in the extreme, tender seedlings may be completely killed.
• Often, sufficient soil is removed to expose the plant roots or ungerminated seed and this results in complete crop failure.
• Covering of stabilized crops or pasturage by drifting soil is another result.

3. Soil loss:

• Fertile top soil is lost by wind erosion. Finer soil fractions (silt, clay and organic matter) are removed and carried away by the wind, leaving the coarser fractions behind.
• This sorting action not only removes the most important material from the standpoint of productivity and water retention, but also leaves a more sandy and thus a more erodible soil than the original.