TY - JOUR
T1 - Cyanobacteria inoculation enhances carbon sequestration in soil substrates used in dryland restoration
AU - Muñoz-Rojas, M.
AU - Román, J. R.
AU - Roncero-Ramos, B.
AU - Erickson, T. E.
AU - Merritt, D. J.
AU - Aguila-Carricondo, P.
AU - Cantón, Y.
PY - 2018/9/15
Y1 - 2018/9/15
N2 - Despite significant efforts to restore dryland ecosystems worldwide, the rate of success of restoration is extremely low in these areas. The role of cyanobacteria from soil biocrusts in reestablishing soil functions of degraded land has been highlighted in recent years. These organisms are capable of improving soil structure and promoting soil N and C fixation. Nevertheless, their application to restore functions of reconstructed soils in dryland restoration programs is yet to be harnessed. In this study, we used microcosms under laboratory conditions to analyse the effects of inoculating soil substrates used in post-mine restoration with a mixture of N-fixing cyanobacteria isolated from soil biocrust (Nostoc commune, Tolypothrix distorta and Scytonema hyalinum) on i) the recovery of the biocrust, and ii) the carbon sequestration and mineralisation rates of these substrates. Soils were collected from an active mine site in the mining-intensive biodiverse Pilbara region (north-west Western Australia) and consisted of previously stockpiled topsoil, overburden waste material, a mixture of both substrates, and a natural soil from an undisturbed area. Our results showed that cyanobacteria rapidly colonised the mine substrates, with biocrust coverage ranging from 23.8 to 52.2% and chlorophyll a concentrations of up to 12.2 μg g−1 three months after inoculation. Notably, soil organic C contents increased 3-fold (P < 0.001) in the mine waste substrate (from 0.6 g kg−1 to 1.9 g kg−1) during this period of time. Overall, our results showed that cyanobacteria inoculation can rapidly modify properties of reconstructed soil substrates, underpinning the potential key role of these organisms as bio-tools to initiate recovery of soil functions in infertile, reconstructed soil substrates.
AB - Despite significant efforts to restore dryland ecosystems worldwide, the rate of success of restoration is extremely low in these areas. The role of cyanobacteria from soil biocrusts in reestablishing soil functions of degraded land has been highlighted in recent years. These organisms are capable of improving soil structure and promoting soil N and C fixation. Nevertheless, their application to restore functions of reconstructed soils in dryland restoration programs is yet to be harnessed. In this study, we used microcosms under laboratory conditions to analyse the effects of inoculating soil substrates used in post-mine restoration with a mixture of N-fixing cyanobacteria isolated from soil biocrust (Nostoc commune, Tolypothrix distorta and Scytonema hyalinum) on i) the recovery of the biocrust, and ii) the carbon sequestration and mineralisation rates of these substrates. Soils were collected from an active mine site in the mining-intensive biodiverse Pilbara region (north-west Western Australia) and consisted of previously stockpiled topsoil, overburden waste material, a mixture of both substrates, and a natural soil from an undisturbed area. Our results showed that cyanobacteria rapidly colonised the mine substrates, with biocrust coverage ranging from 23.8 to 52.2% and chlorophyll a concentrations of up to 12.2 μg g−1 three months after inoculation. Notably, soil organic C contents increased 3-fold (P < 0.001) in the mine waste substrate (from 0.6 g kg−1 to 1.9 g kg−1) during this period of time. Overall, our results showed that cyanobacteria inoculation can rapidly modify properties of reconstructed soil substrates, underpinning the potential key role of these organisms as bio-tools to initiate recovery of soil functions in infertile, reconstructed soil substrates.
KW - Arid lands
KW - Biocrusts
KW - Mine rehabilitation
KW - Pilbara
KW - Soil organic carbon
KW - Topsoil
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046751918&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.265
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.265
M3 - Article
C2 - 29913577
AN - SCOPUS:85046751918
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 636
SP - 1149
EP - 1154
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -
