Biological Soil Crust (BSC), also known as biocrust is a living, thin layer of soil surface composed of communities of microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, mosses, fungi, and other microbes, tightly bound with soil particles. These crusts play a vital ecological role in arid and semi-arid environments by stabilizing soil surfaces, reducing erosion, enhancing water retention, fixing atmospheric nitrogen, and facilitating seed germination. They improve soil fertility and structure by increasing organic matter and microbial diversity. Biocrusts are particularly important in fragile ecosystems where vegetation cover is sparse, acting as a protective layer that sustains soil health and biodiversity. However, they are highly sensitive to disturbance and take years or even decades to recover once damaged.

https://www.bosai-jp.org/en/solution/detail/89/order_list
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360438331_Biological_soil_crus…