Mineral Association and Microbial Processing Jointly Prolong Carbon Turnover in Coastal Wetlands

Coastal margins are critical sites for carbon (C) sequestration, yet the mechanisms stabilizing preaged, allochthonous C (externally-derived biospheric C) in these environments remain poorly understood. Specifically, the interplay between mineral association and microbial processing represents a significant knowledge gap. Here, we investigated C sequestration mechanisms in Chinese mangrove and saltmarsh soils by analyzing topsoils and cores across 36 sites spanning a 20-degree latitudinal transect. We found that saltmarshes, characterized by high mineral accretion and lower relative autochthonous C accumulation, exhibited significantly longer soil organic C (SOC) turnover times than mangroves (topsoils: ~2200 vs. ~500 years, respectively). This difference corresponded to higher proportions of preaged (~50%) and petrogenic (rock-derived; ~20%) SOC in saltmarshes. Linear mixed-effects models (LMM) confirmed that proxies for mineral protection (e.g., Al/Si) and advanced decomposition (lignin oxidation) were robust, positive predictors of turnover time across the latitudinal gradient. Further structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated a depth-dependent shift in drivers. In surface soils, microbial necromass accumulation was a significant predictor of C turnover (coefficient = 0.36). However, at depth (1 m), the degree of lignin degradation emerged as the primary predictor of multi-millennial C persistence (coefficient = 0.45). These results suggest a joint regulation mechanism whereby microbial processing transforms organic matter into stable forms that are subsequently protected by minerals. This mechanism effectively sequesters old, allochthonous C, challenging the paradigm that blue C storage is dominated solely by recent biomass and necessitating a reevaluation of coastal C management frameworks.