Particulate organic carbon dominates early-stage soil carbon accumulation in restored mangroves across estuarine zones

This dataset supports the study “Particulate organic carbon dominates early-stage soil carbon accumulation in restored mangroves across estuarine zones” and contains field and laboratory measurements from restored mangrove ecosystems in Qinglan Harbor, southern China. The data were collected to investigate how estuarine setting, restoration strategy, and soil depth regulate soil organic carbon (SOC) partitioning into particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) during early restoration stages.

The dataset integrates soil carbon fractions, soil physicochemical properties, vegetation structural attributes, and microbial diversity indices across near- and far-estuary zones and different restoration strategies (natural, active, and passive restoration). These data enable assessment of soil–landscape processes controlling SOC accumulation and stabilization along estuarine gradients and are applicable for comparative studies of mangrove and coastal wetland restoration worldwide.

Data Content

The dataset includes the following main variables:

Soil carbon fractions:

Total soil organic carbon (SOC)

Particulate organic carbon (POC)

Mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC)

MAOC/SOC ratio

Soil physicochemical properties:

Soil salinity

Total nitrogen (TN)

Soil bulk density

Soil depth

Vegetation structure variables:

Plant height

Diameter at breast height (DBH)

Restoration strategy (natural, active, passive)

Microbial diversity indices:

Alpha diversity metrics derived from soil microbial community analysis

Site information:

Estuarine zone (near-estuary vs. far-estuary)

Sampling location identifiers