Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Siddhartha Shankar Bhattacharyya, Karolina Furtak
Summary: Understanding the inter- and intra- interactions between soil, plants, and microorganisms is crucial for maintaining soil health and ecosystem services. Unsustainable farming practices can degrade soil quality and fertility, which in turn affects nutrient cycling and plant growth. Soil biological fertility, including the rhizosphere microbiome, microbial nutrient cycling, and biological soil crusts, plays a key role in promoting crop resilience and productivity.
Article
Remote Sensing
Zhengdong Wang, Bingfang Wu, Zonghan Ma, Miao Zhang, Hongwei Zeng, Leidong Yang
Summary: This study used satellite spectral data to measure and analyze the response of the spectral characteristics of biological soil crusts (BSCs) to different succession states, moisture conditions, and growth patterns. The results showed that succession, moisture, and growth were the main factors affecting the spectra of BSCs. It was also found that different types of BSCs can be distinguished to determine the degree of succession in a specific climate context. The study emphasized the importance of considering precipitation in monitoring areas to avoid the effects of dry and wet BSC variations on remote sensing monitoring. Multiple spectral indices can be used to determine the coverage of different BSC types in mixed pixels. The findings of this study provide a basis for using satellite spectral information to monitor BSCs and guide regional ecological management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lei Liu, Ya Gao, Zhiyuan Gao, Li Zhu, Rong Yan, Wenjie Yang, Yu Yang, Jinshan Liu
Summary: This study reveals the assembly process of microbial community in the rhizosphere soil of winter wheat and its relationship with soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus cycling genes, and crop productivity. The microhabitat of the plant was found to be the main factor affecting microbial diversity, composition, and co-occurrence networks.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ting Xie, Wanli Shi, Haotian Yang, Jie Lian, Xiaojun Li
Summary: This study investigates the soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization rates of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in the revegetated sites of Tengger Desert. The results show that the SOC mineralization rate of BSCs and subsoils is significantly higher than that of the mobile sand dune (MSD), and it increases with site age. Various factors such as vegetation characteristics, soil properties, temperature, and soil water content affect the SOC mineralization process.
Article
Soil Science
Gianmarco Mugnai, Milda Stuknyte, Stefania Arioli, Giorgio Gargari, Alessandra Adessi, Diego Mora
Summary: A novel method was developed for extracting and characterizing virus-like particles from biological soil crust after microbial community reactivation. The study found that hydrated BSC under light/dark conditions had the highest number of viable cells, which was optimal for VLP isolation. Viral predation was identified as a key factor in shaping and maintaining bacterial diversity in BSCs.
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruilin Chen, Xiaoyue Tan, Yuanming Zhang, Hui Chen, Benfeng Yin, Xiaolin Zhu, Jin Chen
Summary: This study investigates the potential of using the spectral response of biocrusts to monitor rainfall events in desert areas. The results show that rainfall events induce significant changes in biocrust spectra, and a random forest model performs better than mainstream precipitation products in temporal monitoring and spatial pattern delineation of rainfall events.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Priyanka Kushwaha, Julia W. Neilson, Albert Barberan, Yongjian Chen, Catherine G. Fontana, Bradley J. Butterfield, Raina M. Maier
Summary: The study compared microenvironments and geographic locations in arid-hyperarid regions of the western Sonoran Desert in Arizona, United States, and found that gap soils have significantly lower nutrients, microbial richness, and N-mineralization capacity compared to canopy soils. The bacterial urease gene ureC abundance is strongly correlated with nitrogen availability, with a major phylogenetic association with Actinobacteria, a dominant phylum in deserts. This identifies an important indicator for nitrogen mineralization capacity in arid soil microbiomes.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Yubing Liu, Zengru Wang, Shujuan Wu, Xiaobo Yuan, Tianpeng Gao
Summary: The study highlights the importance of microbial metal homeostasis in desert ecosystems and its relationship with biogeochemical processes and soil properties. Metal homeostasis plays a significant role in regulating soil quality and can potentially contribute to soil restoration during desert revegetation.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Rong Hui, Ruiming Zhao, Lichao Liu, Xinrong Li
Summary: The study found that increasing snow depth led to higher water content, while snow removal or reduction decreased nutrient and microbial biomass concentrations in both types of biocrust. The concentrations of nutrients and microbial biomass significantly decreased when snow depth doubled ambient conditions. Snow depth, crust type, and their interaction significantly influenced nutrient concentrations and microbial biomass.
Article
Soil Science
Julieta N. N. Aranibar, Maria J. J. Repetur, Vanesa R. R. Garcia, Ricardo Elia J. Dazat, Maria Elena Corvalan E. Videla, PabloE. Villagra
Summary: In arid areas, biocrusts play an important role in enhancing soil fertility by responding to low precipitation pulses and increasing nutrient availability. Moss-dominated biocrusts are particularly important for long-term soil fertility, while lichen-dominated biocrusts have lower nitrate availability. These findings highlight the significance of biocrusts in nutrient cycling and soil ecosystem functioning.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuchen Geng, Yuang Ding, Panpan Zhou, Zhicong Wang, Chengrong Peng, Dunhai Li
Summary: Tailings ponds from mining operations pose serious environmental hazards, and their bioremediation is a topic of ongoing exploration. Primary succession plays a crucial role in establishing and developing biotic communities, with soil carbon and nitrogen cycling being vital. This study investigates the microbial-mediated carbon and nitrogen cycling patterns during primary succession in different types of tailings ponds. The results show that primary succession promotes microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling, improving soil nutrient availability and enzyme activity. The findings support the optimization of bioremediation strategies for tailings ponds.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yaru Yang, Weiguo Liu, Jonathan M. Adams, Bin Song
Summary: The removal of snow-cover reduces soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and bacterial diversity in the desert ecosystem. Nitrogen deposition indirectly affects the bacterial community through modifications to soil nutrients and organic matter. This study highlights the critical role of snow-cover and raises awareness of the ecological risks of biological soil crusts in future global change.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Jinghua Qi, Yubing Liu, Zengru Wang, Lina Zhao, Wenli Zhang, Yansong Wang, Xinrong Li
Summary: The study found that bacterial communities play an important role in phosphorus and sulfur cycles during the biological soil crust succession in desert ecosystems, especially in 61-year-old BSCs where the expression intensity of functional genes significantly increased. Furthermore, there is a significant synergy between the improvement of soil properties and the intensities of genes expression related to phosphorus and sulfur cycles.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xiaozhen Liu, Yu Liu, Lei Zhang, Rui Yin, Gao-Lin Wu
Summary: Desertification has become a significant issue for global sustainable development, with biocrusts and litter crusts playing important roles in improving soil microhabitats in sandy ecosystems. Soil bacterial communities are influenced by soil variables and crust types, with more predictors in nutrient cycling found in crust types compared to sandy land. Bacterial taxa in bio-crusts and litter crusts drive nutrient cycling by mediating the restoration of bacterial taxa in sandy ecosystems.
Article
Soil Science
Jane M. Lucas, Bronte S. Sone, Dana Whitmore, Michael S. Strickland
Summary: Antibiotics and rising soil temperatures interact to disrupt bacterial assemblages and network structure, allowing for a rise in fungal dominance and change in soil nutrient stoichiometry. Antibiotics alone decrease bacterial diversity, abundance, total extractable N, and microbial carbon use efficiency, while increasing bioavailable C. Higher temperatures independently homogenize fungal community composition, decrease dissolved organic C and increase soil respiration rates.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Linhui Wu, Xiaoyi Wang, Jingyu Li, Ruihong Yu, Lixin Wang, Ji Zhao
JOURNAL OF BIOBASED MATERIALS AND BIOENERGY
(2017)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
J. Li, B. Li, Y. Zhou, J. Xu, J. Zhao
LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2011)
Article
Soil Science
Linhui Wu, Lihua Hui, Xiaoyi Wang, Jingyu Li, Jingli Yu, Ji Zhao
Article
Soil Science
Jing-Yu Li, Xin-Ying Jin, Xiao-Chong Zhang, Long Chen, Jian-Li Liu, Hui-Min Zhang, Xiu Zhang, Yi-Fei Zhang, Jian-Hua Zhao, Zhi-Shan Ma, Duo Jin
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Agronomy
Xiao-Chong Zhang, Jing-Yu Li, Jian-Li Liu, Cun-Xia Yuan, Yan-Nan Li, Bing-Ru Liu, Xing-Fu Yan
Summary: Various cyanobacteria play a crucial role in improving desert ecosystems through the formation of biocrusts. Seasonal changes can impact the diversity of cyanobacteria in biocrusts, with the highest diversity observed in summer. Biocrust types, chemical properties, and seasonal dynamics are important factors influencing cyanobacterial communities.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jing-Yu Li, Yi-Fei Zhang, Zhou Yang, Meng Wang
ANNALS OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)
Proceedings Paper
Energy & Fuels
Ji Zhao, Yuqin Shao, Huimin, Jiayin Lu, Jingyu Li
PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, PTS 1-4
(2013)
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Environmental
Ji Zhao, Yuqin Shao, Zilong Zhao, Zhengmin Li, Xiaotong Wu, Jingyu Li
PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (ICEESD2011), PTS 1-5
(2012)