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JOURNAL OF DESERT RESEARCH ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 339-344.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2016.00161

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Development Characteristics of Biological Crusts under Artificial Vegetation in Southern Mu Us Sandy Land

Wu Yongsheng1, Yin Ruiping1, Tian Xiumin1, Hasi2   

  1. 1. Institute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area, Ministry of Water Resource of China, Hohhot 010020, China;
    2. College of Resource Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
  • Received:2016-09-30 Revised:2016-12-05 Online:2018-03-20 Published:2018-03-20

Abstract: Widespread biological crusts have been developed at the dune surface after implementation of desertification control and ecological rehabilitation projects in the sandy area in Northern China. Clarifying the relationships between characteristics of biological crusts development and different types of artificial vegetation has significant influence on the ecological rehabilitation of damaged ecosystem. Thicknesses, shear strength, coverage of biological crusts were examined under different types of artificial vegetation (Hedysarum mongdicum, Populus simonii, Salix psammophila, Amorpha fruticosa and Sabina vulgaris) in southern Mu Us sandy land by field investigation methods. The results showed that characteristics of biological crusts development under different vegetation types varied greatly. Thicknesses, shear strength, coverage of biological crusts under P. simonii site significantly higher than other sites (P<0.05). Coverage of biological crusts under H. mongdicum and S. psammophila site was lower relatively. P. simonii site were dominated by mosses crusts while the other sites were dominated by algae crusts. Correlation analysis indicated that coverage of biological crust decreased with increasing of vegetation cover, increasing with surface (0-5 cm) water contents of soil. These results suggest that plantation of P. simonii is recommended for establishment of biological crust, and plantation of S. psammophila with H. mongdicum is not conductive to development of biological crusts.

Key words: biological crusts, artificial vegetation, Mu Us sandy land, environmental factors

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