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Study reveals key role of moss crust patch size in desert soil phosphorus dynamics

Moss crusts, an advanced form of biological soil crusts, play a crucial role in stabilizing soil phosphorus levels in desert ecosystems. A , published in CATENA, highlights how patch size influences soil phosphorus fractions in biological soil crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China.

Led by Prof. Zhang Yuanming from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the researchers examined the relationship between patch size and soil phosphorus fractions.

By collecting 180 samples of moss crusts of different patch sizes from three sampling sites across the desert, they employed linear regression analysis and structural equation modeling to assess both direct and indirect effects of patch size on soil phosphorus dynamics.

Additionally, they constructed a structural equation model to investigate both the direct and indirect effects of patch size on soil phosphorus fractions, taking into account soil environment and nutrient factors.

They found that in moss crust patches, the hard-to-use HCl-Pi was predominant. As patch size increases, moss crust growth promotes the transformation of inorganic phosphorus into organic phosphorus, thereby reducing soil phosphorus bioavailability. Furthermore, they revealed that patch size indirectly affects soil phosphorus fractions by influencing soil nutrients, metal elements, and phosphatase activity.

This study provides critical insights into soil phosphorus dynamics and emphasizes the ecological importance of biological soil crusts in desert ecosystems, providing valuable knowledge for initiatives aimed at desert ecosystem restoration.