Objective Unpaved road dust is a significant source of atmospheric particulate matter. The black soil region of Northeast China is a crucial grain production base. The wind-induced dust emissions from widespread unpaved roads not only threaten agricultural production and public health but also amplify surface erosion through synergistic interactions with seasonal processes, thus thorough research and control measures are urgently needed. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the intensity of dust emission and clarify dust emission characteristics from unpaved field roads in the black soil region of Northeast China, providing a scientific basis for precise prevention and control of such agricultural-source dust, as well as for protecting black soil resources and regional air quality.

Methods This study employs a Portable In-Situ Wind ERosion Lab (PI-SWERL) to systematically quantify real-time PM₁₀ emission fluxes from typical unpaved roads in the black soil region of Northeast China. Field experiments target three road types: Bare soil road, gravel roads, and the hardened gravel road that is subjected to leveling and solidification. Dust emissions are measured using the PI-SWERL under controlled friction velocities, simulating natural wind shear stresses. Statistical analyses identify two distinct emission mechanisms: saltation and aerodynamic entrainment.

Results 1) Bare soil road exhibits the highest potential for dust emission. At a friction velocity of 0.56 m/s, the dust emission flux from bare soil road ranges from 0.43−9.51 mg/(m²·s). In contrast, gravel roads that have undergone grading and stabilization treatments show the lowest dust emission flux (0.09−0.18 mg/(m²·s), indicating that road-hardening measures effectively reduce dust emissions. Moreover, this flux is 1−2 orders of magnitude higher than that of gravel roads at a friction velocity of 0.86 m/s (0.04−1.54 mg/(m²·s)). 2) Dust emissions from unpaved roads in Northeast China’s black soil region are primarily influenced by saltating particle impacts and direct aerodynamic lifting.

Conclusions This study quantifies the dust emission potential of unpaved roads in the black soil region of Northeast China and elucidates the dynamic processes and characteristic differences in dust emission across different road surface types. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing wind erosion control technologies targeting unpaved agricultural roads in erosion-prone black soil ecosystems, thereby helping to conserve black soil resources and improve regional air quality.