The paper presents results of research into organic horizons and litterfall in two different forest ecosystems: Vaccinio uliginosi-Betuletum pubescentis and Empetro nigri-Pinetum in 2003-2005. On the basis of the amount and abundance of litterfall and abundance of organic horizons in the nitrogen and phosphorus compounds retention time and biological circulation coefficient of these elements in researched forest ecosystems was calculated. The nitrogen and phosphorus in organic horizons of Vaccinio uliginosi-Betuletum pubescentis have the shortest retention time (44 and 57 years respectively). The retention time of nitrogen and phosphorus in Empetro nigri-Pinetum are similar and counted about 62 years. The coefficient values of biological circulation show the strong inhibition of circulation of these elements, what caused reservation of matter in organic horizons and acidity of soil.
The aim of the study was to compare the effect of poplar clones Hybrid 275 and Robusta on soil cover, based on their litter fall. In 2000-2002 studies on plant litter fall and leaf decomposition were conducted at two 17-year-old poplar plantations in the Wierzbiczany forest district (Northern Poland). Both clones produced similar amounts of litter fall per tree of about 11 kg/year. Leaves were the main component of the litter fall (about 80% of total mass). Plant litter fall at the poplar plantations was rich in nutrients, lacking only phosphorus. Litter fall of the analysed poplar clones decomposed rapidly. Leaves of Hybrid 275 decomposed slightly faster than those of Robusta. Leaves of Robusta decomposed more slowly because of their lower content of nitrogen, higher content of lignin and their morphology – harder and waxier. Over the 20 month period more than 70% of the mass of Hybrid 275 leaves and 50% of the Robusta leaves decomposed. The absolute accumulation of nitrogen was observed in the decomposing leaves, along with a narrowing of the C/N ratio and a more rapid decrease in potassium content than the loss of mass. Based on the properties of litter fall, we can conclude that both poplar clones would have a favourable effect on soil cover.
The following research on plant litterfall mass, dynamics, structure and chemistry was conducted from 2012 to 2014, on a 40- to 86-year-old stand of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) growing in a headwater area of the upper part of the valley of the Kamienna Creek (Middle Pomerania). Litterfall was collected every month with 20 circular traps, dried untill constant weight, divided into fractions, weighed and analyzed. The annual amount of litterfall deposited on soil during the study period ranged from 3482.5 to 4106.9 kg·ha-1, showing a dynamics pattern typical of temperate decidous forests. Leaves constituted the major fraction of litter with share of between 78.0 and 81.6% in its total mass. The contribution (in %) of twigs was 4.9-5.6, flowers 2.8-8.3, fruits 0.2-0.9 and other components 7.6-9.2. The relatively stable environmental conditions of headwater areas and the absence of disrupting factors during the study period were reflected in the low temporal variability of litterfall mass, dynamics and chemical composition of its individual fractions. The average annual pH of litterfall was 4.33-4.57. In general, litter was relatively rich in nitrogen and calcium but poor in phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. The content of Fe, Al and Mn was characteristic for these elements and low when compared to the other macroelements. The low contents of Cu and Zn confirm limited anthropogenic contamination of the investigated ecosystem with these metals. The annual return of the elements to the soil formed a series C>N>Ca>K>Mg>P>Mn>Fe>Al>Zn>Sr>Cu. A relatively large influx to the soil was noticed for nitrogen and calcium. Meanwhile, it was low for potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.
The study presents the results on the dynamics and structure of the litter fall in the beech stand in two years (1995 - seed year and 1996 - barren year) overgrowing the northern slopes of the "Góra Chełmowa" located in Ojców National Park in two fertility variants. The total litter fall mass during the seed year was on average 4067.3 kg/1 ha and was different by 1260.15 kg from the results obtained during the following year. The greatest part of the litter fall are leaves, which make about 67.6% of the litter fall mass during the seed year and as much as 95.9% in the following year. The fertile habitat had a stimulating effect on the litter fall biomass production such as leaves, seeds, and seed cupules.
The processes of litter production and decomposition were studied in pine and mixed pine forests (10 sites) distributed along the N-S transect in Europe. The transect stretched from 70°N in Northern Finland and Norway to 50°N in Southern Poland. Mean annual temperatures change regularly along the transect from -1.9 to +7.4°C, while precipitation does not show any distinct pattern. Annual production and decomposition of litter are stimulated by warming. The primary factors governing the rates of both processes are related to thermic regime, most frequently to the long-term temperatures registered in the meteorological stations in the vicinity of sites. Correlation between decomposition rate and temperature (R2) range from 0.75 to 0.93, between decomposition rate and latitude from 0.72 to 0.80, and between decomposition rate and precipitation from 0.52 to 0.63 (in the last case only correlations with long-term precipitation are significant). Correlation coefficients R2 between litterfall and temperature range from 0.53 to 0.80, between litterfall-latitude from 0.72 to 0.80, and between litterfall-precipitation from 0.52 to 0.63 (significant only for long-term precipitation). With increasing temperature decomposition rates increase from about 0.09 g.g⁻¹.y⁻¹ (needles 0.13 g.g⁻¹.y ⁻¹, wood 0.06 g.g⁻¹.y⁻¹) in the North to about 0.32 g.g⁻¹.y⁻¹ (needles 0.41 g.g⁻¹.y ⁻¹, wood 0.18 g.g⁻¹.y⁻¹) in the South. Litterfall increases from 103.19 g.m⁻².y⁻¹ (in this needles 56.73 g.m⁻².y⁻¹, wood 45.59 g.m ⁻².y⁻¹) in the North, to about 419.36 g.m ⁻².y⁻¹ (needles 203.95 g.m⁻².y⁻¹, wood 203.56 g.m⁻².y⁻¹) in the South. OM annual accumulation increases southward, ranging from about 100 (North) to about 370 (South) grams per m2. Accumulation is strongly connected with air temperatures on the sites (correlation coefficients (R2) at around 0.9).
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