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Integrating desertification control and wastewater treatment: Novel insights from the induction of artificial biocrusts using municipal wastewater-cultivated cyanobacterium
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Integrating desertification control and wastewater treatment: Novel insights from the induction of artificial biocrusts using municipal wastewater-cultivated cyanobacterium

Jingshang Xiao, Jinhua Ji, Zulin Zhang, Ling Xia, Shaoxian Song, Shubin Lan, Ashiwin Vadiveloo, María L. Montes and Li Wu
Science of the Total Environment, Vol.955, 177049
2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177049
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Embargoed Access, Embargo ends: 01/10/2026

Abstract

Desertification and wastewater discharge are two global issues that severely threaten the sustainable use of available natural resources. This study aimed to explore the potential for transferring nutrients from municipal wastewater to drylands by inducing artificial biocrusts through the inoculation of wastewater-cultured Scytonema javanicum onto the sand surface in Gurbantunggut Desert. The results demonstrated that wastewater cultured S. javanicum effectively induced artificial biocrusts, achieving high photosynthetic biomass and nutrient accumulation (Chl-a, AP and OC) comparable to those induced by S. javanicum cultured in synthetic medium. In addition, the risk index (RI) value of 124.32 suggested a low ecological risk using wastewater cultured S. javanicum to induce artificial biocrusts. This study substantiates the feasibility of using municipal wastewater-cultured cyanobacteria to induce artificial biocrusts, thereby providing a dual benefit: enhancing soil stability in drylands and utilizing wastewater as a resource, thus presenting a significant stride towards the sustainable management of natural resources.

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