Investigation and Assessment of Sediment Carbon Storage in Salt Marsh Wetland of Yellow River Estuary

Abstract

Based on data of sediment surveyed in salt marsh wetland of Yellow River Estuary, September, 2021, the distribution characteristics of sediment particle size, bulk density and organic carbon were analyzed, and the carbon density and carbon storage in salt marsh wetland of Yellow River Estuary were evaluated. The results showed that the sediment types were mainly silt, and some layers were sandy silt and clayey silt. There was little difference in the bulk density of sediments at different depths among four types planting cover, and the bulk density of Spartina alterniflora wetlands and Suaeda salsa wetlands were generally greater than that of Tamarix chinensis wetlands and Phragmites australis wetlands. The contents of organic carbon in sediments of Spartina alterniflora, Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis and Tamarix chinensis area were 0.199%, 0.200%, 0.184% and 0.161% respectively; The contents of organic carbon in sediment of Spartina alterniflora and Suaeda salsa were higher than that of Phragmites australis and Tamarix chinensis area, which was related to more clay components. It was calculated that the total carbon storage of sediment in salt marsh wetland of Yellow River Estuary was 334 700 tons, of which the carbon storage in the sediments of Spartina alterniflora area was 143 100 tons, the Phragmites australis area was 120 500 tons, the Tamarix chinensis area was 52 700 tons, and the area of Suaeda salsa was 18 400 tons.

Keywords

• salt marsh wetland of yellow river estuary
• sediment
• carbon storage
• assessment