Snow depth has greater influence on moss biocrusts' soil multifunctionality than the number of freeze-thaw cycles

Abstract

Continued global warming and changes in precipitation patterns, especially regarding snow depth and freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs), have significantly affected the hydrothermal environment in winter at mid- and high-latitudes. In this study, we assessed the effects of changes in snow depth and FTCs, on the biogeochemical cycling of biological soil crusts. We collected moss crust soil samples from a temperate desert in northwest China, and measured the changes in the amount of snow (65 % snow removal, ambient snow, and 65 % snow increase) and FTCs (FT0, FT5, and FT15) under an artificial environment simulation, to determine the nutrient content and enzyme activities related to soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles. In terms of how snowfall and FTCs affect soil multifunctionality (SMF) of desert moss crusts, the research findings demonstrated that snow depth, FTCs, and their interplay have a significant influence on the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus contents, enzyme activities, and SMF of moss crusts. Compared to snow removal, an increase in snow depth corresponded to a significant increase in the soil water content, and an improvement in soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and SMF. The number of FTCs increased, which led to enhancements in soil phosphorus cycling, soil total phosphorus, and available phosphorus content, together with a reduction in inorganic nitrogen content and the activities of certain enzymes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling. The structural equation model indicated that snow depth had the greatest effect (total effect of 0.165) on SMF in moss crusts compared to FTCs (total effect of 0.048). Therefore, it is necessary to consider snow depth when examining the effects of climate change on nutrient cycling in the biological soil crusts of temperate deserts.