Mangrove litterfall in the mangrove-shrimp system of Kien Giang, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, 2023
https://doi.org/10.5285/3224b8e4-5efd-4fc3-a90f-4dd9e2f39ced
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The data shows 13 different carbon pool sources identified in two mangrove shrimp ponds, collected in Kien Giang province in 2023. The carbon content in the reservoir includes total carbon above ground, carbon below ground, and carbon in the bottom of the pond; from which the total amount of carbon that the shrimp pond has absorbed was calculated. Total carbon above ground is equal to the total amount of carbon of the trunk, branches, leaves, and roots above ground. The underground carbon reservoir is the sum of the biomass carbon of the underground plant and the carbon accumulated in the soil. The carbon reservoir at the bottom is quite complex, including the amount of carbon from fallen debris into the water which will decompose as the main food source for aquatic species such as shrimp, crabs, clams, fish, etc. in the pond. However, the amount of decomposed debris still has some unused material which will sink to the bottom of the pond and accumulate in the sediment.
The research objective was to simulate the carbon cycle in mangrove shrimp farming ponds. Mangrove forest runs through the middle and along the length of the ponds, accounting for 50% and 70% of the area, while the remaining area is water where local farmers release shrimp.
The research objective was to simulate the carbon cycle in mangrove shrimp farming ponds. Mangrove forest runs through the middle and along the length of the ponds, accounting for 50% and 70% of the area, while the remaining area is water where local farmers release shrimp.
Publication date: 2026-06-15
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Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2023-04-26 to 2023-07-26
Provenance & quality
The study area was selected in Van Khanh Dong commune, An Minh district, Kien Giang province (now Dong Hung commune, An Giang province). The research was conducted in two separate shrimp ponds. The areas of the two ponds studied were 3.17 ha and 2.13 ha, respectively. In each pond, three sampling plots were chosen, located at the beginning, middle, and end of the pond. In addition, the two ponds differ in location characteristics. Pond I is rectangular, with one end adjacent to the sea and the other next to the owner's house, thus influenced by both the sea and human activity, leading to reduced biomass at both ends. Pond II is also rectangular, with one end adjacent to the sea and the other to another pond, without nearby households. It is mainly influenced by weather and environment, and mangrove trees grow well.
Methods used in the study include: collecting secondary data from documents, conducting direct interviews with local people, collecting samples directly in the field (temperature, sediment, soil, fallen leaves, tree diameter), analysing soil and sediment samples using the dry combustion method in the laboratory, and validating the model using the RMSE coefficient. The installation of equipment and sample collection were carried out in the same way in each pond to allow comparison of results.
The specific field sampling method is as follows:
- Temperature: Use a thermometer at the sampling location, repeat 3 times, then take the average value.
- Sediment: Use a bucket-type sampling device to collect sediment from a depth of approximately 20cm below the pond bottom at 3 sampling locations.
- Soil: Similar to sediment sampling, collect the soil layer to a depth of approximately 20cm at 3 sampling points.
- Fallen matter: Including fallen leaves, branches, and flowers. Collected using a net measuring 1m x 1m x 1m, suspended 50cm above the ground, with 3 nets per shrimp pond.
- Tree diameter: Measured at breast height (1.3m).
- Interviews were conducted with local shrimp pond farmers to gain understanding of the functioning of each of the ponds and the different carbon pool sources (not included).
Methods used in the study include: collecting secondary data from documents, conducting direct interviews with local people, collecting samples directly in the field (temperature, sediment, soil, fallen leaves, tree diameter), analysing soil and sediment samples using the dry combustion method in the laboratory, and validating the model using the RMSE coefficient. The installation of equipment and sample collection were carried out in the same way in each pond to allow comparison of results.
The specific field sampling method is as follows:
- Temperature: Use a thermometer at the sampling location, repeat 3 times, then take the average value.
- Sediment: Use a bucket-type sampling device to collect sediment from a depth of approximately 20cm below the pond bottom at 3 sampling locations.
- Soil: Similar to sediment sampling, collect the soil layer to a depth of approximately 20cm at 3 sampling points.
- Fallen matter: Including fallen leaves, branches, and flowers. Collected using a net measuring 1m x 1m x 1m, suspended 50cm above the ground, with 3 nets per shrimp pond.
- Tree diameter: Measured at breast height (1.3m).
- Interviews were conducted with local shrimp pond farmers to gain understanding of the functioning of each of the ponds and the different carbon pool sources (not included).
Licensing and constraints
This dataset will be available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Nguyen, T.; Nguyen, L. (2026). Mangrove litterfall in the mangrove-shrimp system of Kien Giang, Mekong Delta, Vietnam, 2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/3224b8e4-5efd-4fc3-a90f-4dd9e2f39ced
Correspondence/contact details
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
Newcastle University