Root exudates in mangrove forests accelerate bicarbonate production in the soil environment.

ABSTRACT: Mangrove forests are increasingly recognized as vital blue carbon ecosystems due to their high carbon sequestration capacity, primarily through the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent research highlights that, in addition to SOC, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), particularly in the form of bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration by being exported from these ecosystems to adjacent coastal waters. This study aims to investigate the previously unexamined mechanisms behind bicarbonate production in mangrove soils. We test the hypothesis that root exudates, specifically sugars and organic acids, induce a priming effect that enhances DIC production. We conducted a month-long incubation experiment using soil samples from an estuarine mangrove forest in Jap

SUBMITTER: Kato N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11685929 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature