A new wind erosion sampler called “Mendeźs trap (MT)”. Description and field performance test in a loamy sand soil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the constructive details of a new collector called Mendeźs Trap (MT) and to compare its performance with the Big Spring Number Eight (BSNE) and Modified Wilson and Cook (MWAC). A detailed description of the MT with dimensions, schemes, and photos is included in the paper. To evaluate the performance of the MT, eleven wind erosion events were measured with MT, BSNE, and MWAC installed at 22.5, 43, 63, 112, and 164 cm height on a loamy sand soil without cover and roughness. The material collected was weighed and divided by the inlet area to obtain the horizontal mass flux (HMF). Results showed that the HMF measured with MT is strongly correlated to the HMF measured with BSNE and MWAC. Relative efficiencies (slope of the regression curve between HMF of different samplers) showed that MT is 31.83% more efficient than BSNE and that MWAC is 81.37% more efficient than MT. Different relative efficiencies were measured at different heights, but no relationships between the relative efficiency and height were found. The average amounts of material collected were the highest at 22.5 cm height (1.74 g for MT) and the lowest at 164 cm height (0.03 for MWAC). At all heights, the amounts of sediments collected were ordered in the sequence MT > BSNE > MWAC. Percentages of samples weighing more than 0.1 g, 0.2 g, 0.3 g, 0.4 g, 0.5 g were ordered in the sequence MT > BSNE > MWA. Field evaluation showed that, the HMF measured with MT, BSNE, and MWAC can be compared, and MT can be used in wind erosion studies. MT collects more amounts of material than MWACs and BSNEs, which is especially important at greater heights where little amounts of material are normally collected. The results of this study must be confirmed in soils of other texture classes and the role of the particle size and wind speed in the efficiency of the MT must be measured in wind tunnel.