Abstract:
Mangroves are highly effective carbon sinks, particularly for sequestering soil organic carbon (SOC)
and regulating atmospheric CO₂ levels, thereby playing a vital role in mitigating climate change.
However, the carbon sequestration potential of mangroves in arid regions remains poorly understood.
This study examines SOC stocks and soil physicochemical properties in Avicennia marina stands within
the Ramsar site, the Qurm Nature Reserve (QNR), in Muscat, Oman. Soil samples were collected from
three zones: seaward (S1), midstream (S2), and landward (S3), at three depth intervals (0–20, 20–40,
and 40–60 cm). The analysis showed significant differences in pH, Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃), and
bulk density across the sampling sites (p < 0.05), whereas electrical conductivity (EC) and SOC
remained stable and showed no significant differences. Soil physicochemical parameters were
consistent across depths. The results indicate a high potential for carbon storage in the QNR mangroves;
the estimated SOC was 136.25±18.51 Mg C ha-1 in QNR, with the highest value recorded at S3 at a
depth of 40-60cm (487.50±31.20 Mg C ha-1). These results underscore QNR's potential as a carbon sink
and provide baseline data for conservation and climate mitigation efforts in arid coastal ecosystems.
