Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China

Study regions: Three study sites (Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo), located in the Mu Us sandland, China. Study focus: Effects of biocrusts on the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and transpiration (Ta) of Artemisia ordosica in the Mu Us sandland were determined and its effects on water stress along...

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Main Authors: Hongjie Guan, Yang Yu, Mengqi Yin, Sizhuo Guo, Gernot Bodner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825001867
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author Hongjie Guan
Yang Yu
Mengqi Yin
Sizhuo Guo
Gernot Bodner
author_facet Hongjie Guan
Yang Yu
Mengqi Yin
Sizhuo Guo
Gernot Bodner
author_sort Hongjie Guan
collection DOAJ
description Study regions: Three study sites (Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo), located in the Mu Us sandland, China. Study focus: Effects of biocrusts on the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and transpiration (Ta) of Artemisia ordosica in the Mu Us sandland were determined and its effects on water stress along a precipitation gradient were simulated based on in-situ field monitoring and two-dimensional model. New hydrological insights for the region: Our study revealed that: (i) A. ordosica with biocrusts had a significantly higher ETa and Ta as compared to the A. ordosica with bare soil; however, biocrusts decreased the evaporation (Ea) by 7.1 %, 11.4 %, and 13.1 % for the cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses, respectively, although the effects of biocrusts on the Ea were nonsignificant. (ii) compared to uncrusted soil, biocrusts decreased soil evaporation by 6.1 % but increased plant water uptake (PWU) by 16.1 %, (iii) soil moisture was increased by 5.4 %, 5.1 %, and 4.8 %, whereas the water stress fraction of the season was reduced by 22.7 %, 29.8 %, and 28.1 % for the Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo sites, respectively, as a results of biocrusts, and (iv) with an increasing seasonal rainfall amount, the PWU ratio decreased, with the mean value of 1.20, 1.17, and 1.15 for the Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo sites, respectively. Our results showed that biocrusts do not adversely affect root water uptake in drylands; hence, it is necessary to reconsider and re-evaluate the current vegetation restoration strategy in the perspective of biocrusts and plant water availability, in which shrubland were selected on a large scale in the arid regions.
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spelling doaj-art-4b76c36826fa4b0c91b73006a0e41d4e2025-08-20T01:55:31ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-06-015910236110.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102361Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, ChinaHongjie Guan0Yang Yu1Mengqi Yin2Sizhuo Guo3Gernot Bodner4School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Yanchi Research Station, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Jixian National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, CNERN, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Jixian National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, CNERN, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Corresponding author at: School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaDepartment of Crop Sciences, Institute of Agronomy, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, Tulln 3430, AustriaStudy regions: Three study sites (Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo), located in the Mu Us sandland, China. Study focus: Effects of biocrusts on the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and transpiration (Ta) of Artemisia ordosica in the Mu Us sandland were determined and its effects on water stress along a precipitation gradient were simulated based on in-situ field monitoring and two-dimensional model. New hydrological insights for the region: Our study revealed that: (i) A. ordosica with biocrusts had a significantly higher ETa and Ta as compared to the A. ordosica with bare soil; however, biocrusts decreased the evaporation (Ea) by 7.1 %, 11.4 %, and 13.1 % for the cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses, respectively, although the effects of biocrusts on the Ea were nonsignificant. (ii) compared to uncrusted soil, biocrusts decreased soil evaporation by 6.1 % but increased plant water uptake (PWU) by 16.1 %, (iii) soil moisture was increased by 5.4 %, 5.1 %, and 4.8 %, whereas the water stress fraction of the season was reduced by 22.7 %, 29.8 %, and 28.1 % for the Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo sites, respectively, as a results of biocrusts, and (iv) with an increasing seasonal rainfall amount, the PWU ratio decreased, with the mean value of 1.20, 1.17, and 1.15 for the Yanchi, Wushen, and Yijinhuoluo sites, respectively. Our results showed that biocrusts do not adversely affect root water uptake in drylands; hence, it is necessary to reconsider and re-evaluate the current vegetation restoration strategy in the perspective of biocrusts and plant water availability, in which shrubland were selected on a large scale in the arid regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825001867Biological soil crustCyanobacteriaLichenMossPlant water uptakePlant water stress
spellingShingle Hongjie Guan
Yang Yu
Mengqi Yin
Sizhuo Guo
Gernot Bodner
Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Biological soil crust
Cyanobacteria
Lichen
Moss
Plant water uptake
Plant water stress
title Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China
title_full Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China
title_fullStr Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China
title_full_unstemmed Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China
title_short Biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the Mu Us sandland, China
title_sort biocrusts do not harm shrub root water uptake in the mu us sandland china
topic Biological soil crust
Cyanobacteria
Lichen
Moss
Plant water uptake
Plant water stress
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825001867
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