Effect of Biological Soil Crusts and Anionic Polyelectrolyte Polymer on some Physical and Chemical Properties of a Sandy Soil

Organic substances produced by cyanobacteria and some polymeric compounds play a role in soil aggregation and increase soil structure stability in sandy soils. Effects of biological soil crusts and some polymeric compounds on some properties of a sandy soil were investigated in this research. Inoculation of three cyanobacterial treatments (Nostoc sp., Phormidium sp. and their combination) and four time intervals on crust formation, organic carbon and calcium carbonate contents, resistance to penetration and MWDD in soils below the crusts were studied in the first experiment. Combination of two cyanobacterial species in 60 days treatment with 2.2 % organic carbon, 0.2 Mpa resistance to penetration, and 96.7 % large aggregates was introduced as the superior treatment. Effect of superior cyanobacteria and time treatments on aggregate size distribution was studied in the second part of this experiment. Sixty-day treatment with 96.7 % of large aggregates was the most effective treatment. Structural stability of a sandy soil influenced by four concentration levels (0, 1, 2 and 4%) of anionic polyelectrolyte polymer at the depths of 1, 2 and 3 cm was investigated in the second experiment. Four percent concentration treatment of polymer with 0.6 Mpa resistance to penetration and 90.9 % large aggregates was the most effective one. A significant difference in resistance to penetration among three depth intervals was also observed.