土壤微生物结皮广泛存在于干旱半干旱地区 ,且具有重要的生态学意义。文章对微生物结皮的形成、发育过程的特点 ,以及它对微生境的影响 ,包括对土壤理化性质、风蚀水蚀的抗性、土壤水分时空分布特点、养分及微量元素地球生物化学循环等土壤学过程和对植被的影响与作用等方面的国内外研究进展进行了综述 ,并对一些有争议研究结论进行了分析 ;探讨了土壤微生物结皮在中国干旱沙漠地区生态恢复中的地位及作用 Soil microbial crust widely exists in arid and semi-arid areas, and has important ecological significance. The article discusses the formation and development of microbial crusts and their influence on the micro-habitat, including soil physical and chemical properties, resistance to wind erosion and water erosion, temporal and spatial distribution of soil moisture, nutrition and trace elements such as biogeochemical cycles of soil science Process and impact on vegetation and its effects at home and abroad were reviewed and some controversial conclusions were analyzed. The status and role of soil microbial crusts in the ecological restoration of arid deserts in China were also discussed