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Restoration and sequestration of carbon and nitrogen in the degraded northern coastal area in Nile Delta, Egypt for climate change mitigation

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Abstract

Most of coastal area in Nile Delta, Egypt, is salt-affected soils and have low carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs as a result of declining vegetation growth and low net primary production. Therefore, this study amid to compare between C and N pools in degraded (uncultivated and salt-affected soil) and restored (cultivated and reclaimed 20 years ago) locations in North Nile Delta. and to examine the impact of cultivation on sequestering C and N pools in this area as one of the most important methods for mitigating climate change impacts. C and N pools increased significantly in surface soil from 2.99 and 0.43 Mgh−1 in uncultivated sites to 19.26 and 1.66 Mgh−1 in cultivated ones as salinity was reduced and net primary production was increased due to leaching and reclamation. Particulate (associated with sand) and nonparticulate (associated with clay +silt) soil organic C or N was significantly higher cultivated sites. In addition, nonparticulate organic C or N was lower than particulate part indicating and supporting the strong relationship between organic matter and clay. The sequestration rate (in approximately 1 m profile) was 1.69 and 0.14 Mgh−1 yr.−1 C and N pools respectively. Although the cultivation is leading to loss of organic matter in some areas; C and N in this coastal area are partially restored and stored. Therefore, restoration and appropriate management practices will lead to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in this area.

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Abbreviations

ECe:

Electrical conductivity in soil paste extract

BD:

Bulk density

SAR:

Sodium adsorption ratio

ESP:

Exchangeable sodium percentage

CEC:

Cation exchange capacity

TSC:

Total soil C

TSN:

Total soil N

SOC:

Soil organic carbon

SIC:

Soil inorganic carbon

CP:

Carbon pool or stock

NP:

Nitrogen pool

POC:

Particulate organic carbon

NPOC:

Non-particulate organic C

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Al_Azher University, Tanta, Egypt

    Heba Elbasiouny

  2. Kafr-Elsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt

    Mohamed Abowaly, Adel Abu_Alkheir & Fathy Elbehiry

  3. National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Cairo, Egypt

    Abd_Allah Gad

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  1. Heba Elbasiouny
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  2. Mohamed Abowaly
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  3. Abd_Allah Gad
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  4. Adel Abu_Alkheir
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  5. Fathy Elbehiry
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Correspondence to Heba Elbasiouny.

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Elbasiouny, H., Abowaly, M., Gad, A. et al. Restoration and sequestration of carbon and nitrogen in the degraded northern coastal area in Nile Delta, Egypt for climate change mitigation. J Coast Conserv 21, 105–114 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0475-3

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