Carbon sequestration and storage in planted mangrove stands of Avicennia marina

Abstract

This work assessed the carbon storage and sequestration potential in the planted mangrove stands of Avicennia marina of different age groups (16–27.2 years), as influenced by vegetation and soil characteristics in an estuarine system of southeast coast of India. The carbon storage was 22-folds higher in soil and 56-folds greater in both tree biomass and soil in the mangrove stands than that in non-planted site. The carbon sequestration was 90-folds higher in soil and 9890-folds greater in both tree biomass and soil than that in control site. Hence, mangrove planting had an extraordinary potential for carbon sequestration in barren areas. The carbon sequestration and storage increased with increasing levels of silt, clay, moisture and nutrients (N, S, Cu, K, P, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Mg) in the mangrove soil. In contrast, the carbon sequestration and storage reduced with increasing levels of temperature, pore-water salinity, pH, bulk density and sand in the mangrove soil. This work calls for an attention on the mangrove stands of low carbon holding for remedial measures through soil management to improve the carbon storage and sequestration potential towards mitigating the global warming.