Abstract:   Cyperus esculentus is an emerging economic crop with a high utilization value that integrates grain, oil, animal husbandry and forage. It plays an important role in adjusting structural planting in sandy areas in China and desertification combating. However, the traditional harvesting easily damages the surface soil and causes wind erosion. Therefore, the optimal protective tillage mode for wind and sand resistance during the fallow period of C. esculentus in sandy farmlands should be explored. In this study, the wind erosion prevention effect of six intercropping modes (two types of intercropping crops × three types of spacing between intercropping strips) and no-harvest modes under four axial wind speeds of 6, 8, 12 and 16 m/s were explored based on wind tunnel tests. The results showed that (1) the wind velocity profiles of the intercropping modes under different wind speeds conformed to logarithmic functions. The roughness decreased with increasing belt spacing, where the roughness of the mode was the smallest with a 24-m intercropping strips spacing. (2) The wind velocity flow distribution characteristics of the intercropping modes under different wind speeds were similar. The near-surface wind speeds of the Zea mays L. intercropping models were lower than 6 m/s. The wind speeds of the sunflowers intercropping modes were approximately 9 m/s, which was higher than that the threshold wind velocity of sand movement. (3) The wind speed significantly affected the windbreak efficiency of the intercropping modes. The windbreak efficiency of each intercropping model decreased with wind speed increasing. (4) The windbreak efficiency of the intercropping Zea mays L. model was higher than that of the intercropping Helianthus annuusL. model. The windbreak efficiency decreased with intercropping strips spacing in the increasing order of 8 m, 16 m, 24 m. Among all the intercropping modes, the near-surface windbreak effect of Zea mays L. strip with a 16 m intercropping strips spacing was greater than 50%, therefore it is an optimal intercropping mode considering ecological and economic benefits during the fallow period of C. esculentus.