Effects of snowfall depth on soil physical–chemical properties and soil microbial biomass in moss–dominated crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert, Northern China

• Published in: Catena (Giessen) Vol. 169; pp. 175 - 182
• Main Authors: Zhao, Ruiming, Hui, Rong, Liu, Lichao, Xie, Min, An, Lizhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Biological soil crusts; China; ecological function; electrical conductivity; growth and development; Inorganic N; microbial biomass; mosses and liverworts; nitrogen; nitrogen content; phosphorus; potassium; semiarid zones; snow; Snowfall; soil microorganisms; soil nutrient dynamics; Soil nutrients; soil organic carbon; soil water; Soil water content; winter; China; SMBN; SOC; Biological soil crusts; Soil nutrients; AK; Inorganic N; Snowfall; AN; SMBP; AP; ANOVA; Soil water content; TN; SMBC; BSCs; EC; SWC

Winter snowfall is an important source of moisture that may influence the growth and development of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in temperate desert regions of China. Yet there is still limited empirical knowledge about the effect of snowfall on BSCs. In this study, moss crusts from the Gurbantungg...