Characterizing soil properties and carbon storage potential across diverse wetlands in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Wetlands are critical ecosystems that play a vital role in biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation.This study investigates soil physicochemical properties and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks across four wetland types in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD): mangrove forests, Melaleuca forests on clay soil, Melaleuca forests on peatland, and flooded grasslands.Results reveal significant variations in soil properties and SOC stocks among these ecosystems.Mangrove forests exhibited neutral pH levels and the highest potassium concentrations, while peatland Melaleuca forests had the highest SOC stocks (545.7891.24MgC ha -1 ) and nutrient concentrations, highlighting their significant carbon storage potential.Flooded grasslands and clay soil Melaleuca forests demonstrated moderate SOC levels (290.75105.44MgC ha -1 and 251.8555.76MgC ha -1 ), with acidic soil conditions influencing nutrient availability.SOC content generally decreased with depth, except in mangroves, where no significant variation was observed between soil layers.These findings underscore the importance of wetland conservation and the critical role of peatlands in carbon sequestration.The study provides essential baseline data for wetland management and informs strategies to mitigate carbon loss, protect biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem resilience against climate change.