毛乌素沙地油蒿群落生物结皮的分布特征

为研究毛乌素沙地油蒿群落中生物结皮分布状况,根据放牧强度选取沙利(禁牧)、陶利(轻度放牧)和乌审召(正常放牧)3个试验点,分别调查了油蒿群落中固定沙地和半固定沙地植被盖度、油蒿盖度、生物结皮盖度、凋落物盖度、生物结皮破碎度、生物结皮厚度等指标。结果表明,毛乌素沙地油蒿群落中固定沙地生物结皮平均盖度为83.74%,半固定沙地生物结皮平均盖度为23.54%;油蒿群落中半固定沙地生物结皮绝大部分是处于初期发育阶段的藻结皮,而固定沙地苔藓和地衣结皮所占比例接近总盖度的1/2;半固定沙地大多数处于初期发育阶段的生物结皮受上层植被的影响更大;轻度放牧干扰对油蒿群落固定沙地生物结皮盖度和厚度的影响均不显著,而正常的放牧干扰会导致生物结皮盖度显著下降;半固定沙地生物结皮对放牧干扰的影响更为敏感,即使是轻微的放牧干扰,也会产生与正常放牧干扰相当的效果。     

北方农牧交错带生物结皮的主要影响因子探讨

为了解我国北方农牧交错带影响生物结皮的主要因子,以宁夏盐池为例,采用样线调查法进行结皮及植被调查。通过对外业数据的处理、分析,对北方农牧交错带生物结皮的主要影响因子进行了探讨。结果表明:（1）枯枝落叶的覆盖对结皮的生长具有明显的促进作用,两者呈对数相关关系,相关系数高达0.969。（2）盐池地区植被对生物结皮的影响先促进后抑制。在土壤质地较差的生境条件下,植被对结皮起促进作用。随着环境条件的改善,两者呈明显的线性负相关,相关系数达-0.920。（3）不同的植物种群对生物结皮具有不同的影响,研究区内所调查的不同植物群落下的结皮盖度表现为:结皮盖度（新疆猪毛菜群落）>结皮盖度（茵陈蒿+新疆猪毛菜群落）>结皮盖度（茵陈蒿群落）。（4）干扰减少了生物结皮的覆盖度,从封育区的核心到外围,结皮盖度表现为:核心（完全封育）>边缘（季节封育）>外围（对照区）。     

黄土丘陵区影响生物结皮退化因素的初步研究

通过植被-枯落物-生物结皮的样方调查,分析植被、枯落物及结皮自身生长状况与结皮退化的关系。结果表明：1）植被盖度和基盖度的变化对生物结皮退化影响较大,而对枯落物下结皮退化度和枯落物下结皮盖度的影响不明显,说明高等植物对植物间空地生物结皮退化的影响不明显;2）生物结皮的自身生长状况与其退化过程的关系不明显,其退化主要是受到其他因素的作用影响;3）枯落物的厚度和盖度是枯落物下结皮退化的重要影响因素,也是影响结皮退化盖度的重要因素。     

防沙工程的结皮效应研究

对土壤物理结皮形成的研究,大都集中在降雨和流水对物理结皮形成的作用,而忽视了风力尤其是在流沙区风力及其大气降尘对结皮的形成和促进作用。通过在流沙表面不同的地貌部位设置不同规格的草方格沙障,来研究沙面结皮形成时的情况,并就障内表层沙样的粒度分布和流沙的粒度分布作了对比。同时就流沙区丰富的大气降尘对结皮形成的物质来源和促进作用进行了分析;同时也分析了降水对流沙固定区结皮形成的重要作用     

黄土丘陵区不同盖度生物结皮土壤抗冲性研究

按藓类植物所占结皮面积比例为盖度划分标准,采用变坡度水槽研究了不同盖度生物结皮对土壤抗冲性及黏结力、有机质、容重等理化属性的影响,探索了生物结皮理化属性与抗冲性之间的关系。结果表明:结皮容重随结皮盖度的增加呈不断减小的变化趋势4,盖度(苔藓盖度>80%)平均结皮容重比1盖度(苔藓盖度<20%)减小了16%;土壤黏结力、有机质、>5 mm水稳性团聚体百分比均随着结皮盖度的增加而增大。生物结皮通过本身分泌的有机凝胶体和多聚糖等胶结物质及菌丝之间的缠绕、包裹等作用,不但改善了土壤本身的理化属性,而且增强了松散土粒与土粒之间的黏结作用;结皮土壤抗冲刷时间随着结皮盖度的增加而延长,土壤侵蚀率随着结皮盖度的增加而减少,证实了结皮的形成和发育减少或避免了土壤侵蚀的发生与发展;生物结皮提高土壤抗冲性的作用主要表现在生物结皮提高了土壤黏结力与团聚体含量上。     

科尔沁沙地生物结皮的土壤种子库特征

通过野外取样和室内分析,初步研究了科尔沁沙地两种生物结皮在干、湿两种处理下土壤种子库种类组成、密度以及物种多样性等特征.结果表明①科尔沁沙地藻结皮和苔藓结皮土壤种子库的总密度为干旱藻结皮＜湿润藻结皮＜干旱苔藓结皮＜湿润苔藓结皮.两种结皮上种子库的数量存在显著差异,对于干、湿处理的两种结皮,苔藓结皮上种子库的总密度均大于藻结皮上种子库的总密度;②两种生物结皮在干旱、湿润两种处理中共出现了6科、15种植物,种子库的组成以一年生草本植物、中生植物为主,二者百分比均超过76%;③在干旱藻结皮、湿润藻结皮、干旱苔藓结皮和湿润苔藓结皮上,种子库物种多样性表现出湿润处理下的结皮高于干旱处理的结皮.由此表明,在半干旱的科尔沁沙地,水分是限制结皮土壤种子库中种子萌发的主要因子,而生物结皮则通过对水分入渗与再分配的调控作用影响结皮种子库中种子的萌发.     

科尔沁沙地生物结皮的土壤种子库特征

通过野外取样和室内分析,初步研究了科尔沁沙地两种生物结皮在干、湿两种处理下土壤种子库种类组成、密度以及物种多样性等特征。结果表明：①科尔沁沙地藻结皮和苔藓结皮土壤种子库的总密度为干旱藻结皮〈湿润藻结皮〈干旱苔藓结皮〈湿润苔藓结皮。两种结皮上种子库的数量存在显著差异,对于干、湿处理的两种结皮,苔藓结皮上种子库的总密度均大于藻结皮上种子库的总密度;②两种生物结皮在干旱、湿润两种处理中共出现了6科、15种植物,种子库的组成以一年生草本植物、中生植物为主,二者百分比均超过76%;③在干旱藻结皮、湿润藻结皮、干旱苔藓结皮和湿润苔藓结皮上,种子库物种多样性表现出湿润处理下的结皮高于干旱处理的结皮。由此表明,在半干旱的科尔沁沙地,水分是限制结皮土壤种子库中种子萌发的主要因子,而生物结皮则通过对水分入渗与再分配的调控作用影响结皮种子库中种子的萌发。     

干旱与重吸水对人工藻结皮光合特性的影响

通过接种蓝藻构建人工藻结皮促进荒漠地区生物结皮的生长发育以及整个荒漠生态系统的恢复,被认为是一种行之有效的荒漠化控制方法。在构建藻结皮过程中,接种的蓝藻以及形成的藻结皮,经常遭受干旱等环境条件的胁迫。本研究通过室内人工构建藻结皮,对形成的藻结皮进行干旱及重吸水处理,在此过程中监测结皮光合生物量、多糖含量以及结皮光合特性的变化规律。结果发现,干旱处理1d后,结皮蓝藻胞外多糖的分泌明显增加(p0.05);当结皮完全进入干燥状态后,结皮蓝藻停止所有代谢活动,结皮生物量及胞外多糖含量保持在一个相对稳定的水平。在结皮重吸水后,结皮初始荧光Fo能够迅速恢复,并在10 min内达到最大;之后Fo逐渐下降,同时结皮光合活性(Fv/Fm)按照函数y=ax/(b+x)逐渐上升并达到稳定。此外,在不同水分条件下,结皮光合活性随着水分的增加逐渐增加;然而结皮净光合速率(Pn)却随着水分的增加先增加后又下降,呈现单峰变化模式。该研究表明结皮蓝藻的代谢调节在人工藻结皮适应荒漠干旱环境中具有重要的作用,这对于进一步理解蓝藻乃至蓝藻结皮对干旱胁迫的适应,以及荒漠化防治中人工藻结皮的构建、维护、管理具有重要的理论与实践意义。     

人工藻结皮对旱区农田土壤风蚀的防控效应

[目的]分析人工藻结皮对土壤起沙风速和风蚀速率的影响及其风蚀防控效果,探索人工藻结皮在农田土壤风蚀防控中的可行性,为农田土壤风蚀防控提供新思路。[方法]研究了400,600,800,1 000,1 200 ml/m²共5个藻液接种量对农田土壤藻结皮形成的影响,进而采用风洞试验,研究人工藻结皮对土壤风蚀的防控效应,探讨了该技术应用于农田土壤风蚀防控的可行性。[结果]在室外自然环境条件下,通过接种藻液可形成不同盖度的藻结皮。藻接种量为1 200 ml/m²时,培养14 d盖度可达30%,50 d后,其盖度可达60%以上,藻生物量、结皮厚度是对照的52和9倍,均有显著差异(p<0.05)。人工藻结皮可显著提高农田土壤的起沙风速,降低风蚀速率。当藻结皮盖度为30%左右,起沙风速(9 m/s)较裸土增加44%,风蚀速率较裸土降低80%以上。[结论]通过在农田土壤接种藻液形成藻结皮,可显著改变土壤物理属性,增强土壤抗风蚀性。农田土壤接种藻液形成藻结皮可以作为一种快速、有效的方法应用于农田土壤风蚀防控。     

生物质结皮制剂在民勤流动沙区恢复植被的作用

利用矿物质材料和生物高分子材料的环境友好和吸湿保水的特性制作形成结皮,对立地条件极端恶劣的流动沙丘进行植被恢复.首先将草籽(黄蒿籽)撒播于目的沙丘表面,然后将与砂土混匀的结皮制剂均匀地撒在沙地表面,最后,洒木质素液使结皮凝固并用围栏封育试验区.通过调查结皮制剂施用后沙丘植物的种类、覆盖度、生长状况等植被恢复指标,分析了生物质结皮制剂在流动沙区植被恢复的效果.研究结果表明:结皮封育区内大量草籽萌发,达1000颗/m2;结皮区植物物种丰富度为13,对照区仅为2,物种多样性和均匀度指数也高于对照区,分别为1.57(Shannon-Weaver index H)、0.41(Simpson index D)和0.81(Pielou index),对照区则分别为0.47、0.40和0.68;结皮区植物生长期较对照延长,2010年早春提前10 d萌发,深秋枯黄延迟约20 d;结皮区植物在干旱季节亦可生长存活;2010年9月,结皮区沙丘植被盖度可达38%,对照区植被盖度仅为4%.研究结果表明该制剂可能在寒区旱区困难立地条件下的植被恢复工作中具有较大的潜在应用价值.     

荒漠草原区土壤动物分解作用对土壤C、N、P、K含量分布的影响

选择半干旱(宁夏盐池)、干旱(内蒙古乌拉特后旗)荒漠草原区为研究样地,以牛枝子枯落物为研究对象,采用网孔分解袋法研究土壤动物分解功能对枯落物C、N、P、K分布的影响,结合枯落物分解过程中土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、全钾(TK)含量分布特征,阐明土壤动物分解作用对土壤营养元素含量分布的影响规律。结果表明：(1)共捕获土壤动物226只,隶属14科(属)。土壤动物个体数表现为盐池地区均高于乌拉特地区,而类群数差异较小,仅在乌拉特地区灌丛高于裸地。土壤动物Simpson指数、Shannon指数和Margalef指数在不同生境下均无显著差异,Pielou指数在裸地生境下表现为乌拉特地区显著高于盐池地区。(2)不同网孔分解袋中枯落物养分元素均处于不同程度的释放状态。其中枯落物C、N元素累积系数在盐池地区表现为2 mm网孔显著低于0.01 mm网孔,在乌拉特地区表现为2 mm网孔显著高于0.01 mm网孔;枯落物P、K元素累积系数分别在乌拉特地区和盐池地区表现为2 mm网孔显著高于0.01 mm网孔,且土壤动物对盐池枯落物C、N、P、K元素释放均表现为正效应;对乌拉特枯落物C、...     

NaCl含量对风沙土盐结皮特性及其抗风蚀性能的影响

土壤盐结皮能够抑制水分蒸发，减少地表粉尘释放，在干旱区生态环境中具有十分重要的作用。为了获得干旱或半干旱区风沙土盐结皮的合理盐溶度，选取新疆塔克拉玛干沙漠东部风沙土为实验土壤，分别加入0.1%、0.2%、0.5%、1.0%、2.0%、3.0%、4.0%、5.0%、6.0%和7.0%（盐占混合物的百分比）的NaCl进行盐结皮实验，测试盐结皮的强度和韧性。利用电镜观察盐结皮微观结构，分析NaCl盐溶度对结皮抗压强度以及其抗风蚀性能的影响。实验结果表明：NaCl含量对风沙土结皮抗压强度和韧性有较大影响，随着NaCl含量的增加盐结皮的强度和韧性均呈现出先增加后降低的特殊现象；但盐结皮的抗压强度峰值和韧性峰值不同步，NaCl含量3.0%时，盐结皮韧性达到峰值；NaCl含量4.0%时，盐结皮的抗压强度才达到峰值。盐结皮表观和微观结构显示，盐含量>4.0%后结皮盐晶体出现盐斑聚集，这种盐晶体聚集导致盐结皮不均匀，进而导致盐结皮抗压强度复杂变化。     

冻融交替对不同生物结皮土壤饱和导水率的影响

  目的  生物土壤结皮在干旱、半干旱地区分布广泛,能显著影响土壤饱和导水率的大小,为探明冻融交替对不同类型生物结皮土壤饱和导水率的变化。  方法  以神木六道沟流域混合结皮（藻结皮 + 苔藓结皮）和苔藓结皮土壤为研究对象,采用室内模拟冻融实验的方法,测定不同冻融交替次数和初始含水率共同作用下生物结皮土壤饱和导水率（Ks）的变化。  结果  （1）冻融条件下,苔藓结皮和混合结皮的存在相比裸土均降低了土壤Ks。（2）同一冻融次数下,苔藓结皮和混合结皮土壤Ks随初始含水率增加总体呈现先增大后减小的趋势;同一初始含水率下,两种结皮土壤Ks随冻融次数增加呈现逐渐增大的趋势。（3）冻融后苔藓结皮土壤Ks显著大于混合结皮土壤,在同一冻融条件下,初始含水率为8%时,冻融3次和7次后两种结皮土壤Ks相差最大,表现为苔藓结皮土壤Ks分别是混合结皮土壤的2.1和2.3倍。（4）冻融通过影响结皮层容重和结皮厚度及结皮下层土壤有机质和 > 0.25 mm团聚体含量进而影响Ks,冻融次数对结皮厚度及有机质含量有极显著影响（P < 0.01）,对结皮容重有显著影响（P < 0.05）,初始含水率对 > 0.25 mm团聚体含量有极显著影响（P < 0.01）。（5）冻融环境下苔藓结皮和混合结皮土壤的Ks均与冻融次数呈极显著正相关（P < 0.01）,与结皮容重呈极显著负相关（P < 0.01）。并对两种结皮Ks与其他因子进行偏最小二乘回归分析,结果表明苔藓结皮土壤Ks的主要影响因子依次为结皮容重 > 冻融次数 > 结皮厚度,而混合结皮土壤Ks的主要影响因子为冻融次数 > 结皮容重。  结论  冻融交替对生物结皮土壤饱和导水率有较显著影响,且冻融作用主要是通过影响结皮厚度、结皮容重及结皮下层土壤大团聚体颗粒及有机质含量来影响生物结皮土壤饱和导水率。     

Controlling effects of surface crusts on water infiltration in an arid desert area of Northwest China

Purpose

Surface crusts are important features in arid desert areas and are critical to hydrological processes and ecosystem development. This paper aims to understand the effects of crusts on water movement in the soil and the factors that affect this and to provide the soil parameters for estimation of saturated hydraulic conductivity (K _s) in ecohydrological models.

Materials and methods

The study area was located in the middle and lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin, an arid desert area in Northwest China. There were three crust types in this region: physical soil crusts (PSCs, formed by water drop and erosion), biological soil crusts (BSCs, formed by microorganisms, moss, algae, lichen, and soil materials), and salt soil crusts (SSCs, formed by soluble salts). The infiltration rates of different soil and crust types and scalped soils were determined in situ in the field conditions using a disc infiltrometer with three repetitions. Crusts and soils were collected, and their properties were determined in the laboratory.

Results and discussion

The K _s of crust were significantly lower than that of scalped soils with a decrease of 13–70 %. The K _s of crusts were related to the type of crust and the properties of soil beneath the crusts. In this region, the soil textures are similar throughout, due to ubiquitous loess sedimentation, so textural differences had no significant effect on K _s. Soil organic matter (SOM) played a weak negative role on K _s because most crusts had higher SOM than the underlying soil. However, both crust thickness and electrical conductivity (EC, an index of salt concentration) showed significantly negative exponential relationship with K _s. Therefore, the SSC with high EC and thick crust have the lowest K _s among all crust types. Because soil development is related to salt accumulation, structure, and crust formation, the K _s follows the order of Solonchaks < Cambisols < Regosols, from lowest to highest.

Conclusions

Crusts have different characteristics compared with original soils and are the limiting layer of water infiltration in these arid soils. Therefore, the characteristics of crust must be considered in ecohydrological models. The main apparent controlling parameters of water infiltration rate in this area are crust thickness and EC.

     

Effects of soil crust and crop on runoff and erosion in Loess Plateau

Soil crust formed after rainfall has a strong influence on soil erosion, water use, and crop growth on sloping farmland. To study the effect of soil crust on sloping farmland on runoff amount and erosion sediment yield, the soil crust on sloping farmland has been studied in this paper for plantings of corn, soybeans, millet, and winter wheat. Using an outdoor rainfall simulator, the influence of soil crust on runoff rate and sediment yield on sloping farmland covered by crops has been observed. The results revealed that soil crust thickness was increased after rainfall and soil crust coverage showed little change after rainfall. Soil crust had a significant impact on runoff and sediment yield on sloping farmland. Slopes with soil crust showed higher runoff rate and less soil loss than slopes without soil crust. On slopes planted with four crops (corn, soybeans, millet, and winter wheat), runoff rates on slopes with soil crust were respectively 20%, 25%, 25%, and 21% higher than on slopes without soil crust; sediment yield on slopes with soil crust was respectively 15%, 14%, 14%, and 8% lower than on slopes without soil crust. Crops enlarged the runoff difference between the two kinds of slope and decreased the sediment yield difference between them. Crop growth enhanced these differences in runoff and sediment yield between slopes with and without soil crust.     

土壤盐结皮人工培育及其破损程度对土壤蒸发的影响

土壤盐结皮在干旱半干旱区广泛发育,对地表土壤水文过程具有重要影响,而外力对盐结皮的机械破损干扰现象普遍存在。该文以塔克拉玛干沙漠流动风沙土为例,通过室内试验利用不同矿化度(5、10、20和30 g/L)的不同盐溶液(NaCl、Na_2SO_4、CaCl_2、KCl)模拟咸水灌溉下盐结皮的形成发育过程,根据盐结皮理化性质确定了其最适人工培育条件,并在此基础上模拟了盐结皮不同破损程度(破损100%、破损50%、破损25%和无破损)影响下的土壤蒸发过程。结果表明:盐结皮的硬度、抗剪切力、pH值和电导率通常随着灌溉水矿化度的增加而增大,采用30g/LNaCl溶液培养盐结皮厚度和硬度均较大;土壤日蒸发量随盐结皮破损程度的增加而增加,并随灌水天数呈递减趋势;土壤累积蒸发量随灌水天数以及破损程度的增加而增大,盐结皮破损100%的土壤日蒸发量和累积蒸发量与其他各处理之间有显著性差异;盐结皮对土壤蒸发的累积蒸发抑制效率随灌水时间的延长呈递增趋势,随破损程度的增加而降低,盐结皮无破损处理的累积蒸发抑制效率最高达58.84%,而破损50%的处理最大仅为30.20%。总之,土壤盐结皮的人工培育在方法上是可行的,其对土壤水分蒸发具有明显的抑制作用,且其破损程度对蒸发过程具有显著影响。这对于揭示干旱半干旱区盐渍土壤水文过程和指导水土资源的合理利用具有重要意义。     

Geomorphic features and soil formation of arid lands in Northeastern Jordan

Arid and semiarid lands occupy about one-third of the Earth's land surface. Interpretation of soil formation and geomorphic features of arid lands is needed to assess their soil ecological potentials, limitations, problems and management needs. The objective of this paper was to study the geomorphic features and soil formation of the arid lands in northeastern Jordan, to provide information that could be used by land managers in the study area and other arid land areas. Five representative soil pedons were excavated and described in the field. Soil samples from each horizon per pedon were taken to the laboratory for chemical and physical analyses. Geomorphic features of the area were also studied. Most of studied land surfaces are plains where eolian deflation has exposed loose gravels consisting predominantly of pebbles forming desert pavements. Desert pavements cover most of the land surface, excluding the mud playas, and are composed of basalt clasts. The accumulation of calcium carbonate and gypsum within these soils create problems for their agricultural development. Accumulation of eolian fine-grained silt has resulted in the formation of a vesicular horizon. The climatic variations during the late quaternary and the late Holocene periods contributed to the development of the desert pavement and the vesicular horizons. Clay illuviation and argillic horizon development within these soils is assumed to be a relict feature from more humid climates during the Quaternary. Sustainable agricultural development of such arid lands may not be easy. In general, these soils have high erodibility, high runoff generation potential, high susceptibility to seal and crust formation, poor water-holding capacity, pedon hardening and structural instability.     

Effects of biological soil crusts on soil nematode communities following dune stabilization in the Tengger Desert,Northern China

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) play an important role in the dune fixation and maintaining soil biota in arid desert systems. Free-living soil nematode communities could be used as significant bioindicators to reflect soil recover regime after sand burial. However, the relationship between BSCs and nematodes is rarely known. To examine the effects of BSCs on soil nematodes, 72 soil samples under cyanobacteria–lichen and moss crusts were collected to analyse nematode communities in the different aged vegetated areas at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. Our results showed the colonization and development of BSCs significantly enhanced nematode diversity. Nematode abundances, generic richness, H′, MI, EI and SI were greater under crusts than those under noncrust. In particular, nematode abundances, generic richness, H′, MI, EI and SI were positively correlated with crust ages. The differences in nematode communities were also dependent upon crust types. Nematode abundances and generic richness under moss crusts were higher than those under cyanobacteria–lichen crusts. This can be contributed to the present and succession of BSCs that increased thickness of topsoil after dunes have been stabilized, namely, creating suitable habitats and providing an essential food source for nematodes.     

区域尺度河道对达里亚博依绿洲植被群落的影响

研究干旱区绿洲天然荒漠植被的分布规律和制约因素,对荒漠地区的植物保护和生态恢复提供一定的理论依据,而干旱区水资源控制着荒漠河岸植被的分布格局,河流对植被的发生、发展和演变起到决定性作用。在于田县克里雅河中下游河道基础上,应用经典统计学和相关分析法分析了达里亚博依绿洲植被群落特征同距河道远近和土壤水分数据间的相关性,探讨了区域尺度基于河流因素的植被群落特征。结果表明:距河道从近到远依次为芦苇（Phragmites australis）群落（0～200 m）、柽柳（Tamarix chinensi）群落（200～800 m）和胡杨（Populus euphratica Oliv）群落（800～1 700 m）;植物群落距河道距离与植被盖度和土壤水分呈负相关;同种植被群落植被盖度、土壤含水率与河道具有同样的相关性,而且离河道越远植被长势越差。     

A Comparative Analysis of the Microfabrics of Surface Horizons and Desert Varnish in Extremely Arid Soils of the Mojave (USA) and Trans-Altai Gobi (Mongolia) Deserts

The mineralogical composition of coarse fraction and characteristic features of the micro- and submicrofabrics and chemical composition of desert varnish on gravels of desert pavements and the underlying vesicular crust soil horizons were studied in the extremely arid soils of the Mojave (USA) and Trans-Altai Gobi (Mongolia) deserts. A set of common diagnostic features of elementary pedogenetic processes was identified in the automorphic desert soils developed on ancient (70–90 ka) piedmont plains composed of alluvial deposits with the high content of red-earth clay. The results of this study attest to the long and complicated history of the extremely arid soils with alternation of the humid and arid phases of pedogenesis reflected in a specific combination of textural (clay-illuvial) and carbonate pedofeatures and in the distribution patterns of iron, manganese, titanium, and barium in different layers of the desert varnish. The chemical composition of the latter did not depend on the mineralogical composition of the underlying substrates and was formed with active participation of soil microorganisms. This allowed us to conclude about the polygenetic (accretionary–microbiological) nature of desert varnish.