Researchers Propose Pareto-Optimized Windbreak Designs for Sustainable Arid Agriculture

A recent review by researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has synthesized evidence and proposed a multi-objective optimization framework for designing farmland windbreak (shelterbelt) systems that can better sustain agriculture in arid regions.

Published in Agricultural Systemson on February 3, the review emphasizes that shelterbelts function as aerodynamic green infrastructure that reduces wind erosion, buffers harsh microclimates, and helps stabilize arid cropping systems.

The researchers highlight that key design attributes, especially optical porosity, belt height and width, orientation to prevailing winds, stratification, and species mixtures, strongly control wind attenuation and field-scale benefits.

Evidence from observations and models suggests that intermediate porosity (~30-50%) often achieves the best balance, extending effective wind protection downwind a distance of 20 to 30 times the shelterbelt height (H). Within these sheltered zones, evapotranspiration is often reduced by 10–30%, while crop yields typically rise by around 10–25%.

However, design goals can conflict. For example, stronger wind reduction may raise water demand and crop–tree competition. The researchers argue for Pareto-based multi-objective optimization rather than single-criterion wind reduction. This approach seeks “best-compromise” solutions that jointly consider wind protection, water constraints, biodiversity co-benefits, and economic practicality.

For climate-adaptive planning, the review recommends integrating drought-tolerant species selection with remote sensing, GIS monitoring and advanced decision-support tools powered by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and artificial intelligence (AI). It underscores that locally calibrated design rules reflecting regional climate-soil-water constraints are essential for long-term resilience.

Read the full article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104655

Figure 1: Multifunctional Roles and Trade-offs of Shelterbelts in Arid Agroecosystems. (Image by XIEG)

Figure 2: Shelterbelt Height (H) Determines the Spatial Extent of Microclimatic Influence. (Image by XIEG)

Contact

LONG Huaping

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: longhp@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn