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Effects of biological soil crusts on soil permeability of croplands in wind-water erosion crisscross region of Loess Plateau
Received:November 21, 2022  
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KeyWord:saturated hydraulic conductivity;cyanobacteria crust;moss crust;infiltration rate;soil physicochemical properties
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
JING Haimeng College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Agriculture on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China 
 
ZHAO Yunge State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Agriculture on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China 
zyunge@ms.iswc.ac.cn 
LIU Shuyan College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Agriculture on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China 
 
TANTAI Yu College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Agriculture on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China 
 
ZHOU Nan College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Agriculture on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China 
 
QIAO Yu College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
1. College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China 
 
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Abstract:
      To determine the distribution of biological soil crusts(biocrusts)and their influence on soil permeability in croplands in the wind-water erosion crisscross region of Loess Plateau, the natural biocrusts in the croplands(corn)soil were investigated. First, the coverage and composition of biocrusts in croplands soil in this region were investigated. Subsequently, soil water infiltration parameters were measured using ring knife and double ring methods, respectively, and lastly, the influence of cyanobacteria and moss crusts on soil permeability was studied. The results showed that biocrusts are widely distributed in both irrigated and dry croplands in wind-water erosion crisscross region, and the average coverage is approximately 42.11%, of which cyanobacteria and moss crusts respectively account for 33.74% and 8.37%. Biocrust significantly decreased the saturated hydraulic conductivity of croplands soil compared with that of bare soil. Compared with bare soil, the saturated hydraulic conductivity of 0-5 cm soil layer covered with moss and cyanobacteria crusts decreased by 55.14%, and 23.54%, respectively. Compared with bare soil, moss crusts significantly reduced the stable infiltration rate, initial infiltration rate, and cumulative infiltration amount of soil by 51.11%, 47.71%, and 46.50%, respectively. Cyanobacteria crusts reduced the stable infiltration rate, initial infiltration rate, and cumulative infiltration amount by 25.56%, 21.10%, and 20.91%, respectively, which did not vary significantly from those of the bare soil. The formation of moss crust in cropland can reduce soil sand content, increase soil clay content, and consequently reduce croplands soil permeability. In conclusion, the formation of biocrusts in cropland has resulted in the decrease of croplands soil permeability, which may affect the effective utilization of soil water by crops.