The primary function that plants play with respect to wind erosion is to protect the soil against the wind. Vegetation cover slows the wind velocity close to the soil surface, increasing the boundary layer and increasing the difference between the surface velocities and the threshold velocity. An increase in vegetation cover decreases wind erosion. Decreases in vegetation can occur through below average rainfall, over grazing, removal or fire.
Monitoring vegetation can be made in the field using quadrat or transect surveying or via remote sensing. Satellite sensing of vegetation cover is frequently used for a large number of natural resource management issues. Attempts have been made to relate these measures to frequency of dust. Desert vegetation however is difficult to monitor due to the colours of desert species.
The vertical dimension of the plant is important measure of a plants resistance to wind. A dense bush will produce a turbulent flow behind the bush, whilst a porus bush will slow the velocity of the wind. In the Mesquite (small prickly bush) country of SW USA the bushes are dense and regularly spaced. Despite the overall high vegetation cover, wind velocities have been found to accelerate between the bushes frequent causing erosion. This process has lead to a decrease in conducive germination sites and given uniform wind directions will direct the vegetative patterning. Long rows (known as streets) of bare patches will form.