Chinese researchers have discovered a new method for stabilizing the desert surface. For this purpose, specially selected cyanobacteria strains are used.
Oxu.Az reports that the method involves the application of blue-green algae to turn sand dunes into soil suitable for restoration.
Cyanobacteria exist in almost all environments, from oceans to land. The cyanobacteria-based soil, which can withstand winds blowing at speeds of 36 kilometers per hour, can enable the restoration of 6,667 hectares of land in the Ningxia region of China over the next five years.
When the soil becomes moist after rain, cyanobacteria become active and rapidly multiply, secreting a matrix rich in biomass. This matrix binds sand particles together, increasing soil stability.
It is noted that under natural conditions, the formation of a stable soil layer in the desert can take 5-10 years. The new method, based on cultivating blue-green algae, shortens this process to just about one year.
