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Biological soil crust development and its topsoil properties in the process of dune stabilization, Inner Mongolia, China

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

This study was undertaken at Horqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, Northern China. Field samples of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and underlying topsoil (0–5 cm under BSC) were taken in areas of different dune stabilization stages, and their physicochemical properties were analyzed, including particle size distribution, bulk density, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and CaCO3 content. The results revealed that semi-mobile dunes, semi-fixed dunes and fixed dunes had developed a physical crust, algae crust and moss crust, respectively. The thickness, hardness, water content, fine fraction and nutrient contents of BSCs were gradually increasing along the dune stabilization gradient. Meanwhile, BSC establishment and development enhanced the bulk density, silt and clay content, and nutrients of the topsoil under it, in an increasing tend from semi-mobile dune to fixed dune. Organic matter concentrations and other nutrients in the 0–5 cm topsoil layer under BSCs were significantly higher compared to unconsolidated soil (control). Moreover, there were strong significant positive correlations between topsoil and BSCs’ organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, CaCO3, and <0.05 mm particle content, suggesting that BSCs have an influence on some of the properties of the underlying topsoil.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Yulin Li, Yuqiang Li, Shaokun Wang, Yayong Luo for assistance in the field and lab. We also thank two anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the manuscript. Funding was provided by projects of National Natural Science Foundation (40601008) of China, and the Field Station Foundation (No. 1731690200015) of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naiman Desertification Research Station, Cold and Arid Regions of Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, People’s Republic of China

    Yirui Guo, Halin Zhao, Xiaoan Zuo & Xueyong Zhao

  2. Arizona Remote Sensing Center, Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona, 1955 E. 6th Street, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA

    Sam Drake

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  1. Yirui Guo
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  2. Halin Zhao
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  3. Xiaoan Zuo
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  4. Sam Drake
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  5. Xueyong Zhao
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Correspondence to Yirui Guo.

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Guo, Y., Zhao, H., Zuo, X. et al. Biological soil crust development and its topsoil properties in the process of dune stabilization, Inner Mongolia, China. Environ Geol 54, 653–662 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1130-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1130-y

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