The use of cyanobacteria as soil inoculants (cyanobacterization) has been widely studied as a mean to improve soil fertility and crop yields, albeit intermittently, for the last 60 years (Hamdi 1982). More recently, cyanobacterization was also studied as a biotechnological approach to stabilize and fertilize desert soils, counteracting desertification spread, utilizing exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing cyanobacteria (Lan et al. 2014). A key step in the development of a successful algalization approach is the selection of proficient inoculants, according to the capability of the strain to work as bio-fertilizer or bio-conditioner, to the type of soil, and environmental conditions. In addition, an effective dispersion methodology of the biomass on the soil is also important. Our research group selected several potential inoculants belonging to Oscillatoriacean and Nostocalean orders, and an efficient inoculation procedure has been optimized. This presentation will be focused on the results obtained by microcosm inoculation of the oscillatorean strain Leptolyngbya ohadii on sand collected from a desert environment. Inoculation was implemented in microcosms inside an incubation chamber with controlled temperature, light and relative humidity. This approach led to the development of cyanobacterial biolayers almost evenly covering the microcosms (cyanobacterial crusts), having a pronounced thickness compared to those we observed after using other inoculants. We focused our investigation on: i) the role of EPSs in the crusting process, ii) the effects of cyanobacterial crust development on the variation of the hydrological properties of the sand and iii) the contribute of cyanobacterial EPSs. The results pointed out at a pronounced capability of L. ohadii to compact fine sand, and suggest the strain as a feasible inoculant for soils unconsolidated and subjected to erosion by wind and water. [1] Hamdi YA (1982) Application of nitrogen-fixing systems in soil improvement and management. Food & Agriculture Organization. [2] Lan S, Zhang Q, Wu L, et al (2014) Artificially Accelerating the Reversal of Desertification: Cyanobacterial Inoculation Facilitates the Succession of Vegetation Communities. Environ Sci Technol 48:307–315. doi: 10.1021/es403785j
Algalization using the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbia ohadii: a biotechnological approach for arid soil rehabilitation
F. Rossi;
2017-01-01
Abstract
The use of cyanobacteria as soil inoculants (cyanobacterization) has been widely studied as a mean to improve soil fertility and crop yields, albeit intermittently, for the last 60 years (Hamdi 1982). More recently, cyanobacterization was also studied as a biotechnological approach to stabilize and fertilize desert soils, counteracting desertification spread, utilizing exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing cyanobacteria (Lan et al. 2014). A key step in the development of a successful algalization approach is the selection of proficient inoculants, according to the capability of the strain to work as bio-fertilizer or bio-conditioner, to the type of soil, and environmental conditions. In addition, an effective dispersion methodology of the biomass on the soil is also important. Our research group selected several potential inoculants belonging to Oscillatoriacean and Nostocalean orders, and an efficient inoculation procedure has been optimized. This presentation will be focused on the results obtained by microcosm inoculation of the oscillatorean strain Leptolyngbya ohadii on sand collected from a desert environment. Inoculation was implemented in microcosms inside an incubation chamber with controlled temperature, light and relative humidity. This approach led to the development of cyanobacterial biolayers almost evenly covering the microcosms (cyanobacterial crusts), having a pronounced thickness compared to those we observed after using other inoculants. We focused our investigation on: i) the role of EPSs in the crusting process, ii) the effects of cyanobacterial crust development on the variation of the hydrological properties of the sand and iii) the contribute of cyanobacterial EPSs. The results pointed out at a pronounced capability of L. ohadii to compact fine sand, and suggest the strain as a feasible inoculant for soils unconsolidated and subjected to erosion by wind and water. [1] Hamdi YA (1982) Application of nitrogen-fixing systems in soil improvement and management. Food & Agriculture Organization. [2] Lan S, Zhang Q, Wu L, et al (2014) Artificially Accelerating the Reversal of Desertification: Cyanobacterial Inoculation Facilitates the Succession of Vegetation Communities. Environ Sci Technol 48:307–315. doi: 10.1021/es403785jI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
