Propagation of biological soil crust functional types from the Monte desert, Argentina
Biological soil crusts (BSC) are associations among cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses and soil particles, which contribute to multiple ecosystem functions such as nitrogen fixation and soil stabilization. The present work aims to evaluate propagation conditions of different functional types of BSC (dominated by cyanobacteria, cyanolichens, phycolichens and mosses) potentially useful for the recovery of degraded soils. In the greenhouse, different functional types of BSC were cultivated, combining sowing treatments (crushed BSC, discrete fragments) and fertilization (substrate with or without goat manure). Response variables, indicating BSC development and functionality, were total BSC cover, each functional type cover, depth of BSC, soil stability, and ammonium and phosphate concentrations. Total BSC cover increased during the 19 months experimental period. Crushing BSC favored the development and functionality of BSC in pots dominated by cyanolichens, phycolichens and mosses. The addition of fertilizer decreased total BSC cover in pots dominated by phycolichens and mosses. BSC depth and soil stability increased in lichens and moss dominated pots, and were benefited by crushing before sowing. Nutrient concentrations were lower in soils under BSC than in bare soils. We conclude that crushing BSC before sowing and without fertilization favored BSC cover and depth and increased soil stability. These results are useful to plan restoration strategies of degraded drylands.
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Asociación Argentina de Ecología
2021
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| Online Access: | https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1158 |
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| Summary: | Biological soil crusts (BSC) are associations among cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, mosses and soil particles, which contribute to multiple ecosystem functions such as nitrogen fixation and soil stabilization. The present work aims to evaluate propagation conditions of different functional types of BSC (dominated by cyanobacteria, cyanolichens, phycolichens and mosses) potentially useful for the recovery of degraded soils. In the greenhouse, different functional types of BSC were cultivated, combining sowing treatments (crushed BSC, discrete fragments) and fertilization (substrate with or without goat manure). Response variables, indicating BSC development and functionality, were total BSC cover, each functional type cover, depth of BSC, soil stability, and ammonium and phosphate concentrations. Total BSC cover increased during the 19 months experimental period. Crushing BSC favored the development and functionality of BSC in pots dominated by cyanolichens, phycolichens and mosses. The addition of fertilizer decreased total BSC cover in pots dominated by phycolichens and mosses. BSC depth and soil stability increased in lichens and moss dominated pots, and were benefited by crushing before sowing. Nutrient concentrations were lower in soils under BSC than in bare soils. We conclude that crushing BSC before sowing and without fertilization favored BSC cover and depth and increased soil stability. These results are useful to plan restoration strategies of degraded drylands. |
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