Successful field cultivation of moss biocrusts on disturbed soil surfaces in the short term

doi:10.1007/s11104-017-3453-0

	Successful field cultivation of moss biocrusts on disturbed soil surfaces in the short term
	Bu, Chongfeng 1,2; Li, Ruxue 1; Wang, Chun 1; Bowker, Matthew A.3
刊名	PLANT AND SOIL
	2018-08-01
卷号	429 期号:1-2 页码:227-240
关键词	Soil surface damaged by engineering activities Moss biocrusts Nutrient solution Shading rating Ecological restoration
ISSN号	0032-079X
DOI	10.1007/s11104-017-3453-0
通讯作者	Bu, Chongfeng(buchongfeng@163.com)
英文摘要	Aims The artificial cultivation of biocrusts may represent a new low-cost and highly efficient solution to erosion control. However, establishment under varying field environmental conditions is understudied. We tested a variety of methods, arriving at a set of technical recommendations for rapid establishment of moss biocrusts on disturbed slopes, and the industrialization of this process. Methods In multiple field experiments, aimed at moss biocrust cultivation and establishment, we considered the following factors: nutrient solutions (control and weekly addition); water-retaining agent (control and addition); plant growth regulator (control and biweekly addition); shading (0, 50%, 70% and 90%); dispersal method (broadcast and spray application). In all cases, we initially inoculated soils with 700 g/m(2) of moss biocrust materials. We monitored dynamic changes of the coverage and density of moss biocrusts during the cultivation period, and their biomass at the end. Results We successfully cultured moss biocrusts in a field setting in as little as two months. Specifically, we found:(1) Regardless of the dispersal method, the nutrient solutions and some degree of shading both increased the coverage, plant density and biomass of moss biocrusts, whereas the water-retaining agent and plant growth regulator had little influence on these parameters. The shading treatments improved the survival rates of moss biocrusts, with the shade rating of 70% exhibiting the best performance. Further, the nutrient solutions had a more positive effect under shaded conditions. (2) The growth of mosses dispersed in the fall exceeded that of mosses dispersed in the summer. (3) Under both dispersal techniques, the maximal coverage of the moss biocrusts exceeded 90%, and the maximal plant density of moss biocrusts reached 120 stems/cm(2)under broadcast dispersal, and 150 stems/cm(2), under spray dispersal. Conclusions The rapid restoration of moss biocrusts can best be achieved by spray-dispersal or broadcast-dispersal, while also applying Hoagland solution to supply nutrients and maintaining soil moisture at 15-25%. Fall inoculation appears more likely to lead to better moss establishment, in fact, high moss mortality occurred in summer unless shading was used. We have some evidence, observational in fall, and experimental in summer, that moderate shading favors establishment. This technique could feasibly be up scaled and adopted to restore some ecological functions on various types of engineered disturbed surfaces. Over a longer period, the survivorship, succession and sustainability of artificial moss biocrusts should be explored specifically.
资助项目	National Key Research and Development Program of China[2017YFC0504703] ; Major Project of Collaborative Innovation of Yangling District[2017CXY-08] ; Chinese Universities Scientific Fund[2014YQ006] ; West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences[2014-91] ; National Science Foundation Dimensions of Biodiversity Program[1638966]
WOS关键词	LOESS PLATEAU ; CRUSTS ; DESERT ; CHINA ; RESTORATION
WOS研究方向	Agriculture ; Plant Sciences
语种	英语
出版者	SPRINGER
WOS记录号	WOS:000439759200018
资助机构	National Key Research and Development Program of China ; Major Project of Collaborative Innovation of Yangling District ; Chinese Universities Scientific Fund ; West Light Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ; National Science Foundation Dimensions of Biodiversity Program
内容类型	期刊论文
源URL	[http://ir.igsnrr.ac.cn/handle/311030/54528]
专题	中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所
通讯作者	Bu, Chongfeng
作者单位	1.Northwest A & F Univ, Inst Soil & Water Conservat, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, Peoples R China 2.Chinese Acad Sci & Minist Water Resources, Inst Soil & Water Conservat, 26 Xinong Rd, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, Peoples R China 3.No Arizona Univ, Sch Forestry, 200 East Pine Knoll Dr,POB 15018, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 USA
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Bu, Chongfeng,Li, Ruxue,Wang, Chun,et al. Successful field cultivation of moss biocrusts on disturbed soil surfaces in the short term[J]. PLANT AND SOIL,2018,429(1-2):227-240.
APA	Bu, Chongfeng,Li, Ruxue,Wang, Chun,&Bowker, Matthew A..(2018).Successful field cultivation of moss biocrusts on disturbed soil surfaces in the short term.PLANT AND SOIL,429(1-2),227-240.
MLA	Bu, Chongfeng,et al."Successful field cultivation of moss biocrusts on disturbed soil surfaces in the short term".PLANT AND SOIL 429.1-2(2018):227-240.