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Microbial extracellular polymeric substances improve water retention in dryland biological soil crusts.
- Source :
-
Soil Biology & Biochemistry . Jan2018, Vol. 116, p67-69. 3p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) represent an important part of the living cover in drylands worldwide. BCSs change soil hydrology due to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)-excreting species of cyanobacteria, dominant members of dryland-BSCs. The presence of EPS allowed matric potential (Ψ m ) to remain unchanged down to 20% water content, whereas, without EPS, Ψ m started decreasing at 80% water content. The EPS matrix improved the water retaining capacity of soil, suggesting that BSCs would delay onset of restrictive matric potential values due to its larger water holding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00380717
- Volume :
- 116
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Soil Biology & Biochemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 127527983
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.10.002