Effects of microbiotic crusts on evaporation from the revegetated area in a Chinese desert

Abstract

Conflicting views exist on the evaporative effects of microbiotic crusts. The effects of microbiotic crusts on evaporation were studied using a microlysimeter under different simulated precipitation. The results show that under minor precipitation, the microbiotic crusts generally act as a retarding factor for evaporation, prolonging water retention in the surface layer in comparison with sandy soil, whereas under abundant precipitation, the crusts result in less infiltration and a greater total water loss through evaporation. It is possible that microbiotic crusts act as a major environmental driver in the succession of restored vegetation through their influence on evaporative water loss.