Peat properties and long-term carbon accumulation rates in regional peatlands of China

Peatlands are globally significant carbon reservoirs, with the potential to either mitigate or exacerbate climate change. However, compared to high-latitude peatlands, low-latitude peatlands have received relatively little attention and remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated peatlands from various regions of China, classifying peat types and analyzing bulk density, carbon and nitrogen content, organic carbon fractions, microbial community composition, and other parameters across different peat depths. Several proxies exhibited clear patterns along the depth gradient. Using the AMS ¹⁴C dating method, we observed substantial spatial variations in the long-term carbon accumulation rates of these peatlands. In future analyses, the measured peat properties will be integrated with carbon accumulation data to further elucidate these dynamics.