Biological method in stabilization of sand dunes using the ornamental plants and woody trees: Review article

Abstract

Sand dunes are considered one of the most obstacles that face the horizontal or vertical expansion of agriculture in the desert. Sand dunes are a collection of a loose grouping of sand on the land surface in the form of a pile with top. In the recent years, increasing attention has been taken to cultivate the timber trees and ornamental plants in a narrow range to combat the desertification, sand encroachment and sand dunes. The climate factors are characterized by high temperature, strong winds laden with sand and sandy dunes, lead to soil erosion and remove the fertility soil in the surface layer, and destroying cultivated lands. Therefore, it's important to planting windbreaks and stabilization sand dunes to reduce the damage and loss of all areas of development aspects. The methods used for combating the sand dunes can be classified into two types; biological methods or plant measure and the second are the mechanical methods or engineering measure. We will focus in this article on the biological methods where the trees, shrubs and grasses are planted. The desert plants should have some criteria. Some successful biological measures were used for combating desertification in different land, such as agricultural areas, highways, railways, roads, cities, industrial factories and mining areas. There are environmental and economic importance of the cultivation of the dunes such as installations and afforestation of sand dunes to maintain the ecological balance and the stability of life, providing employment opportunities and timber production for fuel, or for animals feed.