Spatial and temporal trends in total organic carbon (TOC), black carbon (BC), and total nitrogen (TN) and their relationships under different planting patterns in a restored coastal mangrove wetland: case study in Fujian, China

Peiyong Guo,Meixian Wang,Yuxuan Zhang,Yinshi Sun,Haitao Su

doi:10.1080/09542299.2018.1484673

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aims to determine the sediment changes and the trends in TOC, BC and TN before and after restoration of the mangrove wetland in the Jinjiang Estuary and to determine the effect of the wetland restoration process on the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and nitrogen. The results suggest that the sediments were mainly silt-sized. Among different sites with different types of plants and vegetation densities, the adsorptive ability of N in the plots in plantations of Kandelia obovata, Avicennia marina and Acanthus ilicifolius was the highest. The TOC content differed (p < 0.05) with the density of the plot and significantly differed (p < 0.01) with the mangrove species at the densities of 0.5 × 1 m and 0.5 × 0.5 m. There was a positive relationship between the TOC and TN and the TOC and carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N) (P < 0.05).

Highlights

Mangrove wetland is a special vegetation type located in the intertidal zone of tropical and subtropical coastal areas[1,2]
There was a positive relationship between the total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) and the TOC and carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N) (Table 2, P < 0.05)
We found that the TOC and TN and black carbon (BC) contents were reduced following cultivation

Summary

Introduction

Mangrove wetland is a special vegetation type located in the intertidal zone of tropical and subtropical coastal areas[1,2]. The main component of black carbon is highly polymerized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are extremely difficult to degrade at ambient temperature. Because of this unique property, black carbon has a great influence on the carbon budget and the slow and insoluble carbon pool around the world. Organic matter content and total nitrogen have proven to be useful variables for assessing soil conditions. They are highly valuable in the development of resources and environmental regulations. The cycling of N and C are closely related, and carbon storage depends to a large extent on the cycling of N[7]

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