Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo; Fernando T. Maestre; Jesús G.P. Rodríguez & Antonio Gallardo. Soil Biology and Biochemistry (2013).

Biological soil crusts promote N accumulation in response to dew events in dryland soils

However, not much is known about the influence that very small water pulses, such as those from dew events, have on biogeochemical cycles in drylands.

Introducction

In drylands, water is the most important factor limiting plant growth, net primary production and microbial decomposition (Austin et al. 2004; Schwinning and Sala 2004; Robertson and Groffman 2007)

In these ecosystems dew events may provide up to 40% of the water inputs received every year (from ~0.15 mm to ~ 0.30 mm per day; Kidron 2000; Jacobs et al., 2000; Moro et al., 2007; Lekouch et al., 2011)

Introducction

Aranjuez experimental station (central Spain)

Introducction

N cycle in drylands

After water, nitrogen (N) is the main factor limitingplant growth and decomposition in drylands (Schlesinger 1996)

Biocrusts, usually located in the open areas between plant canopies, largely modulate the N cycle in these ecosystems.

Delgado-Baquerizo et al. 2010; Soil Biology and Biochemistry

Other examples in: Belnap (2002), Zaady (2005) Su et al. (2011)

Introducction

Ex: 1 Increase total N and % of dissolved organic N regarding BS

Delgado-Baquerizo et al. (2013); Plant and Soil

Ex: 2 increase DON production in response to C, N and P addition regarding BS

Introducction

Delgado-Baquerizo et al. 2013; Journal of arid environments

Ex: 3 more homogeneous soil conditions than plant canopies for Inorganic N

Introducction

G: ¿How biocrusts modulate the response of N availability to dew events in semiarid drylands?

H: Biocrusts will increase N availability in response to dew events

Methods

Spring of 2010.

Twelve intact soil cores (5 cm depth, 7.5 cm diameter) were collected under each of two microsites: well-developed biocrusts and bare ground areas (BG)

Crust dominated by Diploschistes diacapsis

Aranjuez experimental station (349 mm; 14.5 ºC).

Methods

Air-dried soil cores with and without biocrusts (six replicates each) were incubated in a plant growth chamber for 14 days under two treatments: with and without (control) dew

Soil cores were incubated for 9 hours of light (20% RH, 20ºC) and 15 hours darkness (80% RH, 10ºC) simulating spring conditions in Aranjuez

In the dew treatment, soils were watered automatically three times during the darkness period to keep soil humidity constant at a 1% of SWC.

Before and after the experiment, we collected 2.5 g of soil (0-2 cm depth) from each replicated core.

AmmoniumNitrateDissolved organic N (DON)Available N = Ammonium + Nitrate + DONAmino acids

Carbohydrates= hexoses + pentosesPhenols Pentoses: hexoses -> proxy of origin from organic matter lichen vs. microorganismsCarbohydrates: available N -> proxy of organic matter quality

Material y Métodos

We calculated the absolute increment in the values of each variable after 14 days of incubation (regarding initial concentrations).

Differences in the increment of these variables were evaluated using two-way ANOVAs: microsite & treatment

Results

Differences between treatments and microsites were not observed for either amino acids or nitrate (P > 0.05)

Results

Discusion

Functional diversity and Fungal:bacterial ratio (Delgado-Baquerizo et al. 2013; Plant and soil)

DON & available N

available N for plant in their periods of activityDew pulses

Organic matter quality (lower labile C:N ratio)available N

Discusión

OM decomposition in response to a small water pulses (Austin et al. 2004). Pentose: hexose ratio

Phenols production under biocrusts

Carbohydrates and N inmobilization under

biocrust and BG for the control treatments

80% of RH may active the N and C cycles in drylands

Allelopathic effect on other groups of microorganisms from occupying a relative “N-rich” microsite

Conclusions

Biocrust increased the N availability in response to small pulses of water similar to dew events in semiarid ecosystems. Given the degree of development of BSCs in drylands worldwide, the high homogeneity of N cycle under biocrusts and the importance of water inputs from dew, the production of N under dew conditions can make an important contribution to the total N available for plants and microorganisms in these regions.

We found that dew-like water inputs can promote the activation of microorganisms involved in the C and N cycles in dryland soils, and that this response is modulated by well developed biocrusts communities.

Biocrust increase the amount of soil phenols which may have a Allelopathic effect on other groups of microorganisms