Dose‐Dependent Cyanobacterial Soil Stabilization: Linking Inoculum Density to Biocrust Development and Erosion Control on Dried Lakebeds

ABSTRACT Expanding desiccated lakebeds in arid and semi‐arid regions are critical dust‐emission hotspots, driven by climate change and unsustainable water use. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts), formed by cyanobacteria, offer a promising nature‐based solution for stabilizing these vulnerable surfaces, yet the optimal inoculum density for effective erosion control remains poorly defined. This study evaluated the dose–response effects of native Nostoc sp. and Oscillatoria sp., isolated from the dried bed of Lake Urmia, Iran, applied at 0, 1, 3, and 6 g m −2 on biocrust development and wind erosion resistance under controlled conditions. After 120 days of incubation, trays were exposed to simulated wind erosion (72 km h −1 for 30 min). A strong, nonlinear dose‐dependent reduction in soil loss was observed: erosion decreased by 28.1%, 66.7%, and 99.4% at 1, 3, and 6 g m −2 , respectively, compared to the control (61.73 kg m −2 ). The highest dose nearly eliminated erodibility. Inoculation significantly enhanced biocrust formation, increasing crust thickness (1.36–6.65×), chlorophyll‐a (1.8–5.2×) and microbial respiration (1.6–6.4×). Scanning electron microscopy revealed dense filamentous networks binding soil particles into cohesive aggregates. These results identify 6 g m −2 as a practical saturation point for near‐total erosion suppression and robust biocrust development. These findings provide a mechanistic, dose‐optimized framework for cyanobacterial inoculation as a scalable restoration tool in degraded arid and semi‐arid lands. Field‐scale validation is now essential to translate this laboratory breakthrough into landscape‐level dust mitigation and land rehabilitation strategies.