Assessing Carbon Storage Potential of Forested Wetland Soils in Two Physiographic Provinces of Northern Virginia, USA

Kathryn Ledford, Stephanie Ann Schmidt and Changwoo Ahn
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Kathryn Ledford: Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Stephanie Ann Schmidt: Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Changwoo Ahn: Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: This study assessed the soil carbon storage potential in terms of the total carbon (TC) and total carbon stocks (TC stocks) and associated soil physicochemical properties (i.e., soil pH, bulk density (D b ), and gravimetric soil moisture (GSM)) for four forested wetlands in the urbanized region of Northern Virginia (NOVA). The study sites were balanced between the two physiographic provinces of the region (Piedmont vs. Coastal Plain); at each site, soils were sampled and analyzed ( n = 180) at three depth intervals (0–10 cm; 10–20 cm; 20–30 cm). There was no significant difference in TC stocks between physiographic provinces ( p > 0.05); however, wetland soils had higher TC contents at the Coastal Plain (4.32 ± 0.41%) than in Piedmont (2.57 ± 0.22%; p < 0.05). Both D b and GSM significantly differed by physiographic province and were highly correlated to TC, indicating that the TC variability is strongly explained by D b (R 2 = 0.38) or GSM (R 2 = 0.39), respectively ( p < 0.01 for all). These outcomes highlight the capacity of urban forested wetlands to store carbon, especially in their topsoil (top 10 cm). Elucidating the carbon storage potentials of forested wetlands in an urbanized landscape may assist with future efforts to combat urban carbon emissions.

Keywords: forested wetlands; wetland soil; soil carbon; bulk density; carbon stocks; Coastal Plain; Piedmont (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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