Despite massive use, the impact of storage on soil microbial parameters has been assessed in a very scattered way. I analysed 73 research articles dealing with the impact of storage practices on various soil microbial parameters. The results show significant effects of all storage practices on soil microbial parameters in a vast majority of cases. Storage practices should be carefully selected according to conditions that prevail in the native soil environment and to microbial parameters.

Biological soil crusts (cover a substantial proportion of dryland ecosystem and play crucial roles in ecological processes. Consequently, studying the spatial distribution of biocrusts holds great significance. This study aimed to stimulate global-scale investigations of biocrusts distribution by introducing three major approaches. Then, we summarized present understandings of biocrusts distribution. Finally, we proposed several potential research topics.