Assessing the distribution of soil organic carbon under three plant species across coastal sabkhas: A comparative analysis

This research investigated the distribution and storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) under the influence of three plant species - Aeluropus littoralis, Cressa cretica, and Zygophyllum coccineum - across nine sabkha sites along the southern Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. The soil bulk density distribution showed a significant increase with depth in all three plant species’ sites. In contrast, the SOC content exhibited a decreasing trend with depth. Considering the entire soil depth from 0 to 50 cm, the highest SOC stock was observed in the sites dominated by the plant species C. cretica, at 6.9 kg C/m2; the sites with the plant species Z. coccineum had a moderate SOC stock of 4.7 kg C/m2; the sites dominated by A. littoralis had the lowest SOC stock, at 2.9 kg C/m2. The SOC stock in the C. cretica sites was 237.9% greater than in the A. littoralis sites, and 146.8% greater than in the Z. coccineum sites. The findings of this study will significantly enhance our understanding of how SOC is distributed within coastal sabkha ecosystems. This knowledge can inform forecasts of future carbon stocks, which is crucial for guiding conservation, restoration, and preservation efforts in these environments.