Sediment carbon of Indonesian mangrove: A bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review

Indonesia hosts the largest mangrove ecosystem globally and has high potential for carbon storage, particularly in sediments. However, studies on mangrove sediment carbon in Indonesia remain limited, fragmented, and unevenly distributed. This study aims to systematically identify, analyze, and visualize research trends on mangrove sediment organic carbon in Indonesia using a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review. Bibliometric data were obtained from the Scopus database and analyzed using OpenRefine and VOSviewer to assess publication trends, and research networks. A systematic literature review was conducted using publications from ScienceDirect and Google Scholar. From 176 identified documents, 35 studies specifically focusing on Indonesian mangrove sediments were selected for detailed analysis. Indonesia ranks fourth globally in mangrove sediment carbon publications, although research locations are strongly concentrated on Java Island. Various analytical methods were applied, including LOI, Walkley–Black, and elemental analysis, with sediment sampling depths ranging from 15-300 cm. The reviewed studies indicate that sediment carbon contributes the largest proportion (46–80%) of total ecosystem carbon stocks, with spatial variability influenced by mangrove condition, sediment bulk density, texture, and organic matter inputs. Improving methodological consistency, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding research coverage to under-represented regions are essential to advance Indonesia’s blue carbon research.