A pellet‐based approach for moss biocrust inoculation: high establishment under laboratory conditions, challenges in the field

Abstract Introduction Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are key components of soil ecosystems and promising tools for ecological restoration. Mosses, as important biocrust constituents, contribute to ecosystem functioning but often fail to establish after inoculation due to harsh environmental constraints. Scalable inoculation technologies are therefore needed to improve establishment and early biocrust development. Objectives This study develops and tests a pellet‐based inoculation method for moss‐derived biocrust restoration, evaluating its performance under controlled laboratory and field conditions. Methods We developed a new pellet formulation (biodegradable glue, quartz sand, green clay, and water) containing fragmented Hyophila involuta and evaluated it under laboratory conditions over 56 days and in a tropical field experiment in southeastern Brazil, assessing establishment, environmental conditions, pellet persistence, and interactions with ants. Results Pellets showed high establishment under laboratory conditions (>90%) and rapid development, with opportunistic cyanobacterial colonization. In the field, no moss establishment occurred, and pellets were frequently displaced or buried by litter and soil. Ant interaction was minimal. Conclusions Our pellet shows strong potential under laboratory conditions, but field performance remains limited and requires further improvement.