Abstract: The assessment of carbon storage in early recovery stage of Kandelia obovata forest is an important foundation for evaluating its function in carbon sink. In this study, we examined the biomass and carbon storage change patterns across K. obovata artificial forests with different restoration times (3, 6, and 12 years) in the Baguang area of Shenzhen. The results showed that: (1) The above and below-ground biomass of K. obovata increased from 22.74 and 8.24 kg·m^-2 (3 years recovery), to 79.33 and 23.49 kg·m^-2 (6 years recovery), and to 95.99 and 24.47 kg·m^-2 (12 years recovery), respectively. (2) There was no significant difference of total organic carbon in the same organ among different recovery times. The organic carbon content of roots (293.27-307.80 g·kg^-1) were lower than that of stems (480.26-511.83 g·kg^-1) and leaves (507.83-531.63 g·kg^-1). (3) The total organic carbon content in sediments increased from 10.85 g·kg^-1 (3 years recovery), to 15.05 g·kg^-1 (6 years recovery), and to 17.17 g·kg^-1 (12 years recovery). (4) The sediment carbon storages per unit area after 3, 6, and 12 years of recovery were 64.77, 72.40, and 81.70 Mg·hm^-2, respectively. Compared with K. obovata artificial forest with 3 years recovery, the carbon storage of plants and sediments per unit area increased with 6 and 12 years recovery, and the proportion of carbon storage in plants increased, while the proportion of carbon storage in sediment reduced. Thus, the artificial K. obovata forest in the early recovery stage has significant carbon sink function.

Key words: Kandelia obovata, artificial forest, carbon storage, Shenzhen