Commercial Soil Stabilizers for Temporary and Wind-Erosion Control
A GRICULTURAL crops are most vulnerable to damage by blowing soil immediately after seeding and during early growth (Lyles and Woodruff 1960, Skidmore 1966). Damage ranges from "blowouts" before emergence to complete destruction by abrasion after emergence. The risk of damage from windblown soil prevents direct seeding of tomatoes in some areas. (Wittmeyer 1974) One feasible approach toward preventing wind erosion for 5 to 7 wks (or until the crop establishes a canopy to protect the soil surface) is to spray the soil surface at seeding time with commercially available stabilizers. In a field study Lyles et al. (1969), evaluating four materials soon after application, showed that per-acre costs could be reduced by using higher water-dilution ratios at manufacturers' recommended total volumes, or by using lower total volumes at recommended dilution ratios and applying the material with fine-spray nozzles. Armbrust and Dickerson (1971), who tested 34 materials in the laboratory, used recommended water-dilution ratios but tested lower total volumes applied through fine-spray nozzles. Because of plugging, finespray nozzles could not be used with some of their products. They suggested six stabilizers, based on certain criteria, that would cost $50 or less per acre (material cost only) and provide temporary wind-erosion control. Our study extends previous research by including rainfall effects in laboratory-screening tests and by including field trials of selected soil stabilizers found effective in laboratory tests.