Biocrusts enhance N2O emissions through coupled nitrification-denitrification under temperature and moisture variability

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00009

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 219-230.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2026.00009

Biocrusts enhance N₂O emissions through coupled nitrification-denitrification under temperature and moisture variability

Shengzhong Du¹(), Chunming Xin²^,³, Huijun Qin²^,³, Jing Zhou²^,³, Guojun Han¹(), Peng Qi¹()

^1.College of Resources and Environment，Gansu Agricultural University，Lanzhou 730070，China
^2.State Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Sustainable Development in Arid Regions / Gansu Province Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^3.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing 101408，China

Received:2026-01-20 Revised:2026-03-03 Online:2026-05-20 Published:2026-06-11
Contact: Guojun Han, Peng Qi

Abstract

Abstract:

Biological soil crusts （BSCs） are a crucial ecological component of the soil surface layer in arid regions. They play important roles in windbreaks， sand fixation， and soil and water conservation and have a significant impact on soil nitrogen cycling， and greenhouse gas emissions. N₂O emission is a key process in the nitrogen cycle in arid regions， yet the mechanism by which BSCs regulate N₂O emissions remains unclear. In this study， typical sandy soil and crusted soil in the Tengger Desert region were taken as research objects. A two-factor （temperature-moisture） control experiment， combined with the acetylene inhibition method， was used to analyze the N₂O emission characteristics and production pathways of the two types of soil under different hydro-thermal scenarios. The results are as follows：（1） Temperature and moisture significantly affected N₂O emissions， and there was a significant interaction between them. （2） Under the same treatment， the N₂O emission fluxes and cumulative emissions of BSCs were higher than those of sandy soil. （3） Denitrification was the main source of N₂O in arid-region soils. In soils covered by crusts， the contribution of the nitrification process increased significantly， and the emission mechanism driven by the synergy of nitrification-denitrification was revealed. （4） The PLS-SEM model showed that temperature and moisture indirectly affected N₂O emissions by regulating substrate availability and microbial biomass. This study reveals the mechanism by which biological crusts promote N₂O emissions by altering the soil microhabitat and enhancing the coupling of the nitrification-denitrification process. It provides empirical evidence for a deeper understanding of the nitrogen cycle in arid regions and for the formulation of regional greenhouse gas reduction and nitrogen management strategies.

Key words: biological soil crusts, N₂O emissions, nitrification, denitrification, hydrothermal responses

CLC Number:

P941.73

Shengzhong Du, Chunming Xin, Huijun Qin, Jing Zhou, Guojun Han, Peng Qi. Biocrusts enhance N₂O emissions through coupled nitrification-denitrification under temperature and moisture variability[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(3): 219-230.

Figures/Tables 7

References 39

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影响因子	因变量	N₂O排放通量				N₂O累积排放通量
影响因子	因变量	自由度	均方	F值	P值	自由度	均方	F值	P值
土壤类型	总反应	1	271.891	20.455	0.000	1	32 676.513	12.021	0.001
	反硝化	1	140.224	18.605	0.000	1	17 579.782	9.163	0.003
	硝化	1	21.811	19.494	0.000	1	2 347.393	18.932	0.000
降水	总反应	1	230.853	17.368	0.000	1	26 348.350	9.693	0.002
	反硝化	1	143.733	19.071	0.000	1	16 720.353	8.715	0.004
	硝化	1	10.418	9.311	0.003	1	1 108.008	8.936	0.003
温度	总反应	2	171.359	12.892	0.000	2	19 663.916	7.234	0.001
	反硝化	2	96.507	12.805	0.000	2	11 340.013	5.910	0.003
	硝化	2	10.591	9.466	0.000	2	1 132.256	9.132	0.000
土壤类型×降水	总反应	1	47.931	3.606	0.050	1	7 195.752	2.647	0.106
	反硝化	1	15.065	1.999	0.159	1	2 766.099	1.442	0.232
	硝化	1	9.115	8.147	0.005	1	1 021.559	8.239	0.005
土壤类型×温度	总反应	2	50.200	3.777	0.025	2	6 043.845	2.223	0.112
	反硝化	2	20.651	2.740	0.068	2	2 642.506	1.377	0.255
	硝化	2	6.554	5.858	0.004	2	706.676	5.699	0.004
降水×温度	总反应	2	47.846	3.600	0.030	2	5 954.587	2.191	0.115
	反硝化	2	22.643	3.004	0.052	2	2 937.968	1.531	0.219
	硝化	2	4.792	4.283	0.015	2	540.494	4.359	0.014
土壤类型×降水×温度	总反应	2	9.385	0.706	0.495	2	1 404.114	0.517	0.598
	反硝化	2	2.953	0.392	0.677	2	443.017	0.231	0.794
	硝化	2	3.781	3.379	0.037	2	428.993	3.460	0.034

影响因子	因变量	N₂O排放通量				N₂O累积排放通量
影响因子	因变量	自由度	均方	F值	P值	自由度	均方	F值	P值
土壤类型	总反应	1	271.891	20.455	0.000	1	32 676.513	12.021	0.001
	反硝化	1	140.224	18.605	0.000	1	17 579.782	9.163	0.003
	硝化	1	21.811	19.494	0.000	1	2 347.393	18.932	0.000
降水	总反应	1	230.853	17.368	0.000	1	26 348.350	9.693	0.002
	反硝化	1	143.733	19.071	0.000	1	16 720.353	8.715	0.004
	硝化	1	10.418	9.311	0.003	1	1 108.008	8.936	0.003
温度	总反应	2	171.359	12.892	0.000	2	19 663.916	7.234	0.001
	反硝化	2	96.507	12.805	0.000	2	11 340.013	5.910	0.003
	硝化	2	10.591	9.466	0.000	2	1 132.256	9.132	0.000
土壤类型×降水	总反应	1	47.931	3.606	0.050	1	7 195.752	2.647	0.106
	反硝化	1	15.065	1.999	0.159	1	2 766.099	1.442	0.232
	硝化	1	9.115	8.147	0.005	1	1 021.559	8.239	0.005
土壤类型×温度	总反应	2	50.200	3.777	0.025	2	6 043.845	2.223	0.112
	反硝化	2	20.651	2.740	0.068	2	2 642.506	1.377	0.255
	硝化	2	6.554	5.858	0.004	2	706.676	5.699	0.004
降水×温度	总反应	2	47.846	3.600	0.030	2	5 954.587	2.191	0.115
	反硝化	2	22.643	3.004	0.052	2	2 937.968	1.531	0.219
	硝化	2	4.792	4.283	0.015	2	540.494	4.359	0.014
土壤类型×降水×温度	总反应	2	9.385	0.706	0.495	2	1 404.114	0.517	0.598
	反硝化	2	2.953	0.392	0.677	2	443.017	0.231	0.794
	硝化	2	3.781	3.379	0.037	2	428.993	3.460	0.034

Biocrusts enhance N₂O emissions through coupled nitrification-denitrification under temperature and moisture variability

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