Comparison of Moss, Cyanobacteria and Artemisia shrub in soil moisture conservations and soil temperature modifications

In Golestan National Park Steppe Rangelands, a variety of shrub plants such as Artemisia are sporadic, and terrestrial surfaces between these plants are covered by biological soil crusts (including moss and cyanobacteria). These crusts are known as a critical factor in arid and semi-arid areas. The effects of them on the moisture and temperature of soil, which play a very important role in ecological and hydrological processes, are still not well-known. In order to know more about this, the effects of moss and cyanobacteria on moisture and temperature regimes and the effect of Artemisia shrub on moisture regimes were investigated. The soil moisture content was measured at four times: first winter, last winter, spring, and summer using a moisture meter (TDR), and soil temperature was recorded in three different seasons: last winter, spring ,and summer using a thermometer for 117 days with two-hour intervals. The most important factor affecting soil moisture and soil temperature was the season, which was determined using a general linear mixed model. Based on the results, the ability to maintain the cyanobacteria moisture content is higher than that of moss and Artemisia shrubs treatments, as well as the daily fluctuation of soil temperature under cyanobacteria (4/3 °- 35 ° C), more than moss (4/25 ° -26 ° C).