Synergistic effect of cyanobacteria and nano-sand-stabilizer on biocrust formation and sand fixation

The biocrust formation by cyanobacteria inoculation is considered to be a substantial and promising biotechnology method for combating desertification. However, due to the harsh ecological environment in desert, it is difficult to form stable biocrust quickly on sand surface. Herein, we fabricated a network-structured nanocomposite as nano-sand-stabilizer (named as AC) using attapulgite (ATP) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The AC with abundant ‒COOH and ‒OH had a high retention water capacity and could bind sand particles together through netting effect, providing a stable and suitable microenvironment for growth of mixed cyanobacteria (MC). A one-year field experiment confirmed that synergistic effect of AC and MC could improve the soil nutrition content and microbial structure, which was beneficial for biocrust formation and sand fixation. Therefore, this study provides a new method for fast sand fixation and promoting the biocrust formation, which could achieve the goal of sustainable desert restoration.