干旱区研究

Arid Zone Research >

2024 , Vol. 41 >Issue 5: 812 - 820

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13866/j.azr.2024.05.09

Plant Ecology

Characterization of soil multifunctionality and its determining factors under moss crust cover in the arid regions of Northwest China

  • LEI Feiya ,
  • LI Xiaoshuang ,
  • TAO Ye ,
  • YIN Benfeng ,
  • RONG Xiaoying ,
  • ZHANG Jing ,
  • LU Yongxing ,
  • GUO Xing ,
  • ZHOU Xiaobing ,
  • ZHANG Yuanming
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  • 1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Stress Tolerance Plant Resources Conservation and Resistance Giene Utilization, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China

Received date: 2024-02-06

  Revised date: 2024-03-17

  Online published: 2024-05-29

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Abstract

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are the main active groundcover community in arid regions. BSCs can significantly affect the material cycle and energy exchange, improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of surface soil, and influence the soil multifunctionality (SMF). Moss crust is an important type of BSCs. This study investigates the SMF variability of moss crust-covered and bare sand in the deserts of northwestern arid regions, and explored the main drivers of the variability. We analyzed eight crucial ecosystem function indicators. SMF was calculated by applying the mean method and factor analysis approach. We used the ordinary least square and structural equation modeling to explore the drivers of SMF changes. The results show that: (1) soil monofunctionality and SMF under moss crust cover were higher than those in bare sand (P<0.05). (2) The drivers of the SMF change in bare sand and under moss crust cover were very different. The main drivers of SMF in bare sand were aridity and soil water content, whereas the driver of SMF under moss crust cover was soil sand content (Sand). (3) The mean annual temperature had the largest indirect effect on changes in SMF for both soil in bare sand and under moss crust cover. Therefore, the development of moss crust significantly increased SMF and, in addition, modulated the relevant drivers of SMF. Our results are important for a deep understanding of the differences and drivers of SMF in desert soil with bare sand and under moss crust cover.

Key words： soil multifunctionality; northwest arid regions; moss crust; driving factor; structural equation modeling

Cite this article

LEI Feiya , LI Xiaoshuang , TAO Ye , YIN Benfeng , RONG Xiaoying , ZHANG Jing , LU Yongxing , GUO Xing , ZHOU Xiaobing , ZHANG Yuanming . Characterization of soil multifunctionality and its determining factors under moss crust cover in the arid regions of Northwest China[J]. Arid Zone Research, 2024 , 41(5) : 812 -820 . DOI: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.05.09

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