Spatial and seasonal variations of atmospheric N2O and CO2 fluxes from a subtropical mangrove swamp and their relationships with soil characteristics

Marine ecosystems are a known net source of greenhouse gases emissions but the atmospheric gas fluxes, particularly from the mangrove swamps occupying inter-tidal zones, are characterized poorly. Spatial and seasonal fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from soil in Mai Po mangrove swamp in Hong Kong, South China and their relationships with soil characteristics were investigated. The N2O fluxes averaged from 32.1 to 533.7 μg m−2 h−1 and the CO2 fluxes were between 10.6 and 1374.1 mg m−2 h−1. Both N2O and CO2 fluxes in this swamp showed large spatial and seasonal variations. The fluxes were higher at the landward site than the foreshore bare mudflat, and higher fluxes were recorded in warm, rather than cold, seasons. The landward site had the highest content of soil organic carbon (OC), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), nitrate (NO3−–N) and total phosphorus (TP), while the bare mudflat had the highest ammonium nitrogen (NH4+–N) concentration and soil denitrification potential activity. The N2O flux was related, positively, to CO2 flux. Soil NO3−–N and TP increased N2O flux, while soil OC and TP concentrations contributed to the CO2 flux. The results indicated that the Mai Po mangrove swamp emitted significant amounts of greenhouse gases, and the N2O emission was probably due to soil denitrifcation.