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Capacity of Desert Algal Crusts to Fix Atmospheric Nitrogen
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1971
Year
Desert GrasslandDesert AlgalBiogeochemistryEngineeringSoil EcologyVegetation-atmosphere InteractionsSoil ScienceBiogeochemical CycleNutrient CycleGeochemistryLand DegradationArid EnvironmentAlgal CrustsEarth ScienceSoil Biogeochemical CyclingAlgal Crust
Abstract Approximately 4% of the soil surface of an area of desert grassland in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona possessed algal‐crust formations. Samples of dry intact algal crusts were examined for nitrogen fixation by the acetylene‐ethylene method. Three hours after being moistened, algal crusts produced detectable levels of ethylene. Premoistened algal crusts were capable of producing ethylene equivalent to 0.7 µg of N/cm 2 of algal crust per hour. On the basis of these findings, 1 ha of desert grassland may receive a nitrogen input of 3 to 4 g of N/hour (0.3 mg to 0.4 mg N/m 2 per hr) following a rainfall.