Salinity affects topsoil organic carbon concentrations through regulating vegetation structure and productivity

Estuarine salt
marshes have been recognized as
one of the most efficient carbon sinks in the biosphere, with considerable
potential for climate change mitigation. However, there are still uncertainties
about the response of soil carbon stocks
to enhanced soil salinization caused by accelerated sea-level rises and
aggravated saltwater intrusion. We therefore conducted both field
investigations in the Chongming Dongtan salt marsh of the Yangtze River
Estuary, China, and manipulative experiments on marsh soils occupied
respectively by the invasive Spartina alterniflora,
and the native Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter, to identify the
effects of elevated soil salinity on top soil organic carbon concentration.

This dataset consists
of two tables listed below. Table S1: Sampling data for invasive (Spartina alterniflora) and native (Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter) species in the
Chongming Dongtan salt marsh of the Yangtze River Estuary, China. Table S2 : Responses
of invasive (Spartina alterniflora)
and native (Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter) species to six
flooding salinity treatments (0, 5, 10,
15, 25 and 35 ppt).