[Objective] The ability of a salt lake protection system to protect against wind and sand damage quantitatively and the changes to surface erosion and deposition induced by the system were described in order to reveal the wind-proof and sand-resistant action law of the protection system. The purpose of this study is to provide data support for the evaluation of the protection effect of the Jilantai Salt Lake protection system

and to provide a theoretical basis for sand damage control in the sandstorm area and desert salt lake in Northwest China.[Methods] The Jilantai Salt Lake protection system was chosen as the research object. Sand transporting (at 0-30 cm height) and surface erosion sediment intensity (monthly) were observed in situ by field positioning monitoring in different parts of the Jilantai Salt Lake protection system.[Results] ① The wind speed at 2 m height from the moving sand ridge to the center of the salt lake passed through three phases (attenuation

rapid attenuation

recovery). The wind speed from the Nitraria tangutorum shrub to the saline-alkali beach decreased by 70%~90% compared with the moving sand ridge. ② The sediment discharge from N. tangutorum to the center of the salt lake passed through three states (sharp decrease-decrease-slow increase)

and was 83.89%~94.90% lower than the sediment discharge of the moving sand ridge. ③ The effect of the protection system on wind prevention and sand resistance from the two main harmful wind periods was obvious. Wind speed and sediment discharge decreased by 98.71% and 91.79%

respectively

compared with the moving sand ridge. In addition

the effect on wind and sediment prevention for the northwest wind direction was better than that for the southwest wind direction. ④ The surface showed sedimentation from N. tangutorum to the center of the salt lake from June to September

and the net erosion intensity could be reduced by up to a maximum of 157.04% compared with the moving sand ridge.[Conclusion] Although the protection system was affected by season and wind direction

the windbreak and sand-blocking effects still maintained a good state

and its blocking effect on wind-sand flow can change the state of the surface from wind erosion to sedimentation

thereby reducing wind speed and sediment discharge by more than 90%

and thus effectively avoiding sand accumulation on the salt lake surface.