Estimation of storage and density of organic carbon in peatlands of China.

Based on the results of the National Survey of Peat Resources (1983-1985) and the investigation results on the peatlands of China, the storage and density of the organic carbon in the peatlands of China were estimated. The total organic carbon storage (OCS) of the peatlands in China, including bare peatlands and buried peatlands, are 1.503 × 10 t, unevenly distributed over 30 provincial level administrative units and 16 climatic zones. Peatland organic carbon storage (POCS) in Sichuan (6.45 × 10 t) and Yunnan provinces (2.91 × 10 t) is the highest, accounting for 62.29% of the total POCS. Humid zone of plateau has the highest POCS of 7.14 × 10 t, especially in the Zoigê Plateau, where the POCS is 6.30 × 10 t, accounting for 41.92% of the total POCS of China. The organic carbon density (OCD) of the peatlands in China mostly ranges from 80 kg/m to 140 kg/m, and the range of the maximum is 270-360 kg/m, and the minimum is less than 80 kg/m. Divided by the Yanshan Mountain, Taihang Mountains and Hengduan Mountains, the peatland oganic carbon density (POCD) is lower on the northwestern side than that on the southeastern side. Jiangxi Province has the highest POCD due to the ancient buried peatlands. The OCD of the bare peatlands is mostly in the range of 60-150 kg/m, and that of the buried peatlands is more than 100 kg/m. In the bare peatlands, the OCD generally increases from the surface layer to the below surface layer, and then decreases with the depth. Although the peatlands area in China is small, the OCS per unit area is far higher than the other soil types, so peatlands protection can effectively mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]