Search

Biological soil crust (BSC) plays an important role in numerous functional aspects of arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Particularly, it plays a decisive role in offering suitable microsites for establishment and development of vascular plant species. BSC would be important to assist the ecological restoration of land degraded by use and increase the development of native communities with ecological value. The objective of this work was to examine the emergence and establishment of seedlings of Pappophorum caespitosum and Nassella longiglumis, two native grass species, in relation to the presence of BSC and water availability. The results obtained allow us to observe that the differences in the emergence and establishment of the herbaceous species studied were related with the availability of water and not with the coverage of BSC. In order to carry out ecological restoration works that include CBS and native forage species, aspects related to precipitation and temperature regimes should be taken into account. The results obtained do not allow us to state whether CBS has positive or negative effect on the establishment of seedlings of these species, but they do allow us to know their behavior under different soil water conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work summarizes the most important aspects of restoration in biological soil crusts (BSC), including the most determining factors in the success of a restoration, the aspects to take into account to select species and the techniques most used in their restoration, in order to serve as base for those who wish to carry out BSC's restoration projects. A series of steps with their recommendations according to the area and conditions to be restored are proposed, where the importance of identifying the site to be harvested, the collection, storage and inoculation in the laboratory or in the field are highlighted. Finally, the enrichment and stabilization techniques most used in the restoration process of BSC are listed. Each aspect considered is supported by multiple experiences with widely proven results. At the moment of selecting the most appropriate strategies can emerge economic impossibilities that will lead for another path. Regardless of the strategies addressed, the selected path will be the one that ensures the best possible success in restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]