The relationship between litterfall and stand characteristics in pine forests of the northeastern East European Plain

Abstract

Litterfall plays a fundamental role in soil formation, the maintenance of soil fertility, and nutrient cycling. The objective of study was to characterize tree litterfall in Scots pine forests located in the northeastern part of the East European Plain and to assess its relationship with stand structural attributes. Long-term investigations were conducted across Scots pine forests representing three distinct types: Lichen, Myrtillus and Sphagnum using litter traps. Throughout the observation period, litterfall input remained relatively constant. Forest type exerted a significant influence on both the share of individual litter fractions and total litterfall. Specifically, the total quantity of tree litter in Sphagnum pine forests was 2.1–2.3 times lower than in Myrtillus and Lichen pine forests, which exhibited comparable values. No significant correlation was identified between stand density and the total litterfall or its individual fractions. In contrast, significant correlations were observed with other stand parameters, including growing stock, total basal area, and biomass components: foliage (needles and leaves), crowns (branches and foliage), branches, bark, and aboveground biomass. Regression equations were developed linking litterfall input to pine stand characteristics, which proved to be statistically robust predictors. Growing stock (R² ranging from 0.72 to 0.87) and basal area (R² ranging from 0.65 to 0.82) emerged as reliable variables for estimating both total and fractional litterfall in pine stands. The findings of this study can be effectively utilized to improve assessments of carbon cycling in pine forests, particularly when integrated with forest inventory data.