Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1): 172-181.doi: 10.11978/2024052CSTR: 32234.14.2024052

• Marine Environmental Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparative study on soil carbon sinks of artificial Kandelia obovate mangrove and Spartina alterniflora salt marsh in the southern Zhejiang coastal zone

WU Xue1,2(), ZHAO Xin1,2(), GU Weifang1,2, ZHU Kehua3, GE Zhenming3   

  1. 1. Marine Academy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Ocean Space Resource Management Technology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
  • Received:2024-03-07 Revised:2024-04-17 Online:2025-01-10 Published:2025-02-10
  • Contact: ZHAO Xin
  • Supported by:
    Integrated Demonstration Application of NQI Research Results in Marine Ecological Monitoring of Research Program of National Quality Infrastructure System(2023YFF0611804); Science and Technology Planning Project of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Natural Resources(2022-42); "Leading Goose" R&D Program of Zhejiang(2022C03G1253994)

Abstract:

Coastal wetland restoration is an important measure to improve the blue carbon function in the coastal zone. Zhejiang Province has continuously carried out a series of large-scale mangrove introduction and afforestation projects. Yet, the carbon sink capacity and influence of factors for the high-latitude artificial mangroves still remain unclear. In this study, the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, organic carbon stock per unit area and their vertical distribution characteristics of the Kandelia obovata forests with different ages were investigated. The SOC content and stock in the mangroves were also compared with the Spartina alterniflora salt marsh and bare mudflat. The results showed that the SOC content and stock were the highest in the adult mangroves. The SOC content and stock in both mangroves and salt marshes were significantly higher than those in the mudflat. The SOC content in salt marshes was higher than that in the young mangroves, but due to the significant lower bulk density of Spartina alterniflora salt marsh soils compared to young mangrove forests, the SOC stock in the young mangroves was slightly higher than that of salt marshes. The SOC content and stock in the different habitats showed the distribution characteristics of first increasing and then decreasing with the soil depth, reaching the highest values at the soil depth of 20~50 cm. Site location and habitat type had a significant relationship with SOC content and stock, with significant interaction between site location and habitat type. Dissolved oxygen in pore water, soil total nitrogen, soil pH and pore water salinity were significantly associated with the SOC content. The results of this study can provide scientific basis and data support for assessing the carbon sequestration potential of artificial mangrove forests after northward migration, as well as wetland protection and restoration strategy.

Key words: coastal wetland, mangrove, exotic plants, soil organic carbon, carbon stock

CLC Number: 

  • P734.5