Influences of exogenous additives on culture of biological soil crusts

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) have been proved to play an important role in stabilizing desert, improving soil environment and restoring ecosystem, and are attracting wide interest. However, the succession and restoration of BSCs progress slowly due to the limitation and influence of water, nutrient and wind erosion. This paper explores the effects of superabsorbent polymer (SAP), ammonium nitrate, glucose, and Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch. gum (ASG) and their interaction on the formation and development of BSCs, using a full factorial field design. SAP did not have a significant effect on the formation and development of BSCs. Ammonium nitrate and glucose significantly increased the content of chlorophyll a in BSCs. ASG significantly enhanced compressive strength of BSCs; low dosage of ASG notably raised the content of chlorophyll a in BSCs, while high dosage had no remarkable effect on it. The results also showed that the mixture of ammonium nitrate, glucose and ASG significantly enhanced the content of chlorophyll a in BSCs. The results indicate that the exogenous addition of nitrogen and carbon can promote the formation and development of BSCs. ASG can improve the resistance of BSCs to wind erosion, and mixed addition of nitrogen, carbon and ASG are helpful to the rapid formation of BSCs.