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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Crop Science Research Laboratory » Genetics and Sustainable Agriculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #294829
Title: Fine particle emission potential from overflowing areas of Tarim River in the Tarim Basin

Author
item LI, ZINHU - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item Feng, Gary
item ZHAO, CHENGYI - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item ZHENG, ZEHAO - Chinese Academy Of Sciences

Submitted to: Soil Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2013
Publication Date: 12/1/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/60125
Citation: Li, X., Feng, G.G., Zhao, C., Zheng, Z. 2014. Fine-particle emission potential from overflowing areas of Tarim River in the Tarim Basin. Soil Science. 178:556-567.

Interpretive Summary: Fine particulates less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) or 10 µm (PM10) are often emitted from river bank or other alluvial lands to atmosphere in dry and windy seasons worldwide, which attribute to land degradation and poor air quality. Investigation of PM2.5 and PM10 emission potential could contribute to development of mitigation strategy and better land management practices. As a case study, PM2.5 and PM10 emission potential and soil erosion potential along the Tarim River were investigated. The results of sieving analysis revealed that most soils (28 soils) were silt loam in the overflowing area of the Tarim River, few (12 soils) soils were sandy loam. The soils had low clay and high silt contents. Soil particles greater than 0.84 mm (nonerodible soil particles) were not found by sieving all soil samples. Contents of PM2.5 and PM10 ranged from 1.56 to 30.39% and 4.46 to 78.61%. These high percentages of fine soil particulates suggest that mitigation of fine particle emission is important in protecting air quality in the region. The highest content (44.87%) of saltation-sized particles (100 to 500 micron diameter) was found in the lower reaches of the river, followed by the middle reaches (14.55%) and then the upper reaches (11.71%) of the river. The highest content of suspension particles (<100 micron diameter) was observed for soils in the middle reaches (13.14%), followed by upper reaches (11.26 %) and lower reaches (7.09%).

Technical Abstract: In the low-precipitation zone (<100 mm annual precipitation) of the Tarim Basin, wind erosion and fugitive dust emission is a recognized problem. There is limited information, however, regarding wind erosion on river overflowing areas, areas of temporal flooding, in the Tarim Basin. The objectives of this study were to characterize PM2.5 and PM10 (particulates less than 2.5 or 10 µm) emission potential and wind erosion potential of soils beside the Tarim River. The results of sieving analysis revealed that most soils (28 soils) were silt loam in the overflowing area of the Tarim River, few (12 soils) soils were sandy loam. The soils had low clay and high silt contents. Soil particles greater than 0.84 mm (nonerodible soil particles) were not found by sieving all soil samples. Contents of PM2.5 and PM10 ranged from 1.56 to 30.39% and 4.46 to 78.61%. These high percentages of fine soil particulates suggest that mitigation of soil wind erosion and fine particle emission is important in protecting air quality in the region. The highest content (44.87%) of saltation-sized particles (100 to 500 micron diameter) was found in the lower reaches of the river, followed by the middle reaches (14.55%) and then the upper reaches (11.71%) of the river. The highest content of suspension particles (<100 micron diameter) was observed for soils in the middle reaches (13.14%), followed by upper reaches (11.26%) and lower reaches (7.09%).