Forest Monitoring: Chapter 14. Litterfall-Biomass, Chemistry, Leaf Area, and Links with Wider Ecosystem Functioning (Developments in Environmental Science)

Litterfall is the link between tree canopy and the soils beneath, adding the nutrients accumulated from its biomass, influencing forest productivity and tree growth. Field methods to obtain accurate measurement of litterfall and its component parts are described. Laboratory procedures to determine the chemistry of these components and the determination of specific leaf area (SLA) from foliar litter are given in detail. The expected additions of litterfall from regional forest ecosystems are summarized from the literature, and the causes of local variation briefly explored. The role of litterfall in biogeochemical cycling and tree growth is outlined, and the potential to increase this knowledge from analyses of litterfall monitored in the ICP Forests intensive Programme across Europe is highlighted.