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Dejpa Bitumen

Interaction of Petroleum Mulching, Vegetation Restoration and Dust Fallout on the Conditions of Sand Dunes in Southwest Iran

March 24, 2025

Over the past half-century, the petroleum mulching–bio-fixation (PM-BF) method has been used to stabilize sand dunes in Iran. However, the impact of these methods on the characteristics of sand dunes and the distribution of heavy metals resulting from mulching has not been thoroughly studied. To investigate this, three areas that have been affected by PM-BF for 5, 20, and 40 years, along with a control area without PM-BF, were examined. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–10 cm and 10–50 cm with three replications in Khuzestan Province.

The results showed that PM-BF methods contributed to the restoration of vegetation cover on sand dunes. Moreover, these methods increased the deposition of dust particles and helped control sandstorms, gradually increasing the levels of kaolinite and smectite over time. Interactions between dust deposition and PM-BF methods significantly altered the physical and chemical properties of the dunes. PM-BF methods led to an increase in soil organic matter (184–287%), cation exchange capacity (142–209%), electrical conductivity (144–493%), soil content (134–196%), and penetration resistance (107–170%) compared to the area without PM-BF.

Furthermore, petroleum mulching significantly increased the levels of Ni (1.19%), Cd (1.55%), Pb (1.08%), Cu (1.34%), Zn (1.38%), Mn (1.66%), and Fe (1.15%). However, in the long term, these elements may be gradually leached out due to the increase in organic matter and soil salinity in the light-textured sand dunes.

 

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