Variations in snow cover is one of the most principal limiting factors for microorganisms in soils, which have an important effect on development of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in arid and semiarid regions. 

However, influences of snow cover on soil properties of BSCs are poorly understood, especially the effects of snow cover on soil microbial biomass. 

Recently, a research group from Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences collected three types of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert and exposed BSCs samples to five snow depths for 3 years, to examine these effects of snow cover on soil properties and microbial biomass in BSCs. 

The study results indicated that most of the soil properties and soil microbial biomass was significantly affected by 3 years of snow manipulation in three types of BSCs. 

Moreover, increases in snow cover had a positive influence on soil properties and microbial biomass, but negative effects were observed in all BSCs following snow removal and snow reduction. 

Thus, variations in snow cover can drive differences in soil properties and microbial biomass of BSCs, which may further affect development and succession of BSCs in arid and semiarid regions. 

The specific objectives of this study were to explore the impact of three years of experimental snow removal and snow addition on soil properties and soil microbial biomass of three BSCs. 

The study entitled “Variation in snow cover drives differences in soil properties and microbial biomass of BSCs in the Gurbantunggut Desert-3 years of snow manipulations” was published in Ecohydrology. 

Contact: 

HUI Rong 

E-mail: huirong850623@163.com 

Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.