Dynamics of dissolved organic carbon in the mires in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

Abstract

Mires in boreal area had proved to be an important dissolved organic carbon (DOC) reserve for the sensitivity to climate change and human interfering. The study was focused on the temporal and spatial dynamics and controlling factors of DOC in a seasonally-waterlogged mire (SLM) and perennially-waterlogged mire (PLM) in the Sanjiang Plain, Northest China. In the two mires, DOC concentrations in both surface water and upper soil strata experienced pronounced seasonal variation. DOC concentrations in the surface waters were the greatest and averagely was 47.82 in SLM and 34.84 mg/L and PLM, whereas that in soil water at 0.3-m depth had little difference (20.25 mg/L in SLM and 26.51 mg/L in PLM). Results revealed that DOC concentrations declined 5–8 times vertically from the surface down to groundwater. DOC in the groundwater only was in a very small part with the average concentration of 5.18 mg/L. In relation to the surface water, DOC concentrations varied positively with temperature just before 8 August, and only in early spring and later autumn DOC concentrations exhibited identifiable spatial trends along with standing water depths in PLM. It was supposed that the influences from standing water depth took effect only in conditions of low temperature, and temperature should be the most powerful factor controlling DOC dynamics in the mires. Redox potential (Red) showed negative relationship with DOC values while total nitrogen (TN) and the majority of free ions in the soil solution exhibited no relationship. High soil TOC/TN ratio and low redox potentials also led to DOC accumulation in the mires in the Sanjiang Plain.