Characteristics of aeolian sediment transport and their influencing factors among different land use types

• The sediment flux is significantly greater in cropland and grazing-grassland than in enclosed-grassland and shrubland. • Quantified the characteristics of sediment flux in different seasons, directions, and heights. • The key factors influencing sediment flux among different land use types are identified. • Targeted control strategies of wind erosion are proposed for different land use types. Soil wind erosion poses significant threats to the environment and human health, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Different land use types can greatly influence the aeolian sediment transport process. However, the existing research on the characteristics of aeolian sediment transport still lacks profound exploration, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the process of wind erosion. This study was conducted at a representative arid region highly susceptible to wind erosion called Yanchi County in Hedong Sandy Land, China. The study combined positioning observations using modified BSNE sediment samplers. We quantified the magnitude of aeolian horizontal sediment flux among different land use types and analyzed the characteristics across seasons, directions, and various heights and revealed the influence mechanisms of land use types on wind erosion. The research indicated that the average horizontal sediment flux in cropland (3.11 kg m -1 ) was 1.3, 4.6 and 6.6 times greater than that in grazing-grassland, enclosed-grassland and shrubland, respectively. Seasonal variations in cropland, grazing-grassland, and shrubland all presented greater average horizontal sediment flux in spring and winter than in summer and autumn, whereas enclosed-grassland presented greater average horizontal sediment flux in spring and autumn than in summer and winter. The average horizontal sediment flux in cropland and grazing-grassland was significantly greater in the east and southeast directions than in the other directions, potentially posing dust storm hazards to downwind cities. The rate of vertical decrease in sediment flux within the 0–2 m layer in cropland (0.192 g cm -1 ) and grazing-grassland (0.071 g cm -1 ) was significantly greater than in enclosed-grassland (0.015 g cm -1 ) and shrubland (0.013 g cm -1 ). Furthermore, the impacts of wind, soil, and vegetation-related factors on sediment flux are substantial and exhibit marked heterogeneity across different land use types. The specific directions of strong aeolian sediment transport land types warrant particular attention. These findings enhance the understanding of wind erosion mechanisms and provide a scientific basis for targeted wind erosion control measures.