Cultivation strips of different widths were compared in the southwestern area of the Argentinean semiarid region to evaluate their efficiency in controlling wind erosion and soil water storage. The strips ranged in width from L to 4L, with L being the length of the field free of barriers, as calculated by the wind erosion equation (WEQ). The movement of soil particles and the moisture level in the soil profile were determined during three erosive events for a high susceptibility soil condition (fallow: flat and bare surface). Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) was used as the barrier crop.Strips of L width showed the least soil movement and the highest soil water content. The amount of soil blown away increased and the level of soil moisture diminished with increasing strip width. Between L and 4L, the amount of soil captured can be explained as a function of the downwind distance from the shelter barrier (r2= 0.88 to 0.95, p < 0.001). A similar relationship was observed between soil water content and strip width (r2= 0.34 to 0.78, p < 0.05).