Sangma, P.S.W.; Rani, V.; Padmavathy, P., and Zuala, V., 2022. Differential capacity of carbon sequestration potential: Analyzing Avicennia marina and Salicornia brachiata along the south-eastern coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(2), 377–388. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

The various plant parts of a mangrove, Avicennia marina and a salt marsh, Salicornia brachiata, namely leaves, stems, and roots from Tamil Nadu, India, were analyzed for variation in their carbon sequestration potential for a period during July 2019 to August 2020. The investigations were done using a carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur analyzer. The carbon (C) concentration for different seasons revealed a maximum value of 447.26 g C kg^–1 (44.726%) in leaves of A. marina recorded during premonsoon months at Nagapattinam, and the minimum of 269.57 g C kg^–1 (26.957%) in the roots during monsoon season at Thoothukudi. Similarly, the maximum value of 514.08 g C kg^–1 (51.408%) was recorded in leaves of S. brachiata during post-monsoon at Nagapattinam and the minimum of 183.26 g C kg^–1 (18.326%) during monsoon in roots at Thoothukudi. The physicochemical parameters such as bulk density, pH, sediment organic matter, and microbial loads of A. marina and S. brachiata reported considerable variation. The mean value of soil organic carbon in A. marina was 24.92 g C kg^–1 and 8.04 g C kg^–1 in S. brachiata. There was a significant difference in sediment organic matter between the stations (p > 0.01). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was carried out to identify the functional groups such as amides amines, carbonyl-containing compounds, and alcohols in the sediments of both the species; it was observed that a major broadband around 3621 cm^–1 assigned to be due to hydrogen-bonded O-H stretching vibration and another band around 1052 cm^–1 due to C-N stretch. Regardless of their significance, information on the current spatial dispersion (event and degree) of mangroves and salt marshes is fragmented.