The content, composition, and influencing factors of organic carbon in the sediments of two types of constructed wetlands

Constructed wetland is a common measure for water purification and biodiversity conservation, but the mechanism of carbon storage is still unclear. Here, we researched the content and composition of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the influencing factors in surface sediment in surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCW) and subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SSFCW). Results showed that the content and storage of SOC in SSFCW were significantly higher than those in SFCW. However, the higher proportion of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) and lower proportion of heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) in SSFCW indicated that SSFCW had less stable organic carbon storage than SFCW. The composition of SOC in the two types of constructed wetlands was mainly affected by total nitrogen, which suggesting carbon-nitrogen coupling in constructed wetlands. The abundant microbial species in SSFCW and their positive correlation with SOC could explain the higher carbon storage in SSFCW than in SFCW. In addition, plant biomass was the principle factor limiting LFOC proportion in SFCW, while it was moisture content in SSFCW. The study has important implications for understanding and management of ecological function of carbon sequestration in contrasted wetlands, and also provides a special perspective to understand the carbon storage mechanism in wetlands.

Automated summary

The study found that the content and storage of soil organic carbon (SOC) in subsurface flow constructed wetlands were significantly higher than those in surface flow constructed wetlands, but the organic carbon storage in subsurface flow constructed wetlands was less stable. The composition of SOC in both wetlands was mainly influenced by total nitrogen, and the abundance of microbial species in subsurface flow constructed wetlands was positively correlated with SOC.