Assessing the Qualitative and Quantitative Composition of Tree Litter and its Role in Carbon Input in a Clearcut Area
- Authors: Severgina D.A.1, Arzubov P.A.1,2, Payusova I.V.1, Osipov A.F.1, Dymov A.A.1
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Affiliations:
- Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University
- Issue: No 1 (65) (2025)
- Pages: 19-32
- Section: FORESTRY
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/2306-2827/article/view/303798
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.25686/2306-2827.2025.1.19
- EDN: https://elibrary.ru/FXPLTA
- ID: 303798
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Abstract
In terrestrial ecosystems, the input of plant litter is a key link in the biogeochemical element cycling. The quality and composition of tree litter supplied to the soil surface is determined by the age and composition of the forest stand. To date, insufficient research attention has been given to changes in the functioning of taiga ecosystems in the case clear cutting is performed using specialized equipment, as well as to changes occurring during regeneration.
This work aims to assess the quantitative and qualitative composition of litter in clear-cut areas of the middle taiga coniferous-deciduous stands of the Komi Republic at various technological sites and to estimate the carbon influx from litter to the soil surface. Objects and methods. The study was conducted on the territory of the Syktyvdinsky district of the Komi Republic. Tree litter was collected in late May in 2022–2024 and at the end of the 2021–2023 growing seasons after autumn leaf fall. Based on the analysis of data obtained, two groups of fractions were distinguished according to their decomposition rate: active fractions (leaves, needles, seeds) and inactive ones (branches, bark, cones). To convert the mass of plant organic matter of the ground litter into carbon stocks, coefficients specific to individual fractions in the studied region were used. Results. In different years, the tree litter mass at the background site was as follows: 347.34±15.64 g/m2 in 2021–2022, 304.25±16.33 g/m2 in 2022–2023, and 260.74±13.30 g/m2 in 2023–2024. After clear-cutting in the middle taiga coniferous-deciduous stand, annual litter fall decreased 14-66 times over the entire observation period. In the background coniferous-deciduous stand, the amount of carbon input varied from 164.71±7.35 to 123.49±6.25 gC/m2 during three years of observation. Removal of the tree layer through forest clear cutting resulted in a significant 14- to 70-fold reduction in carbon supply from tree litter to the soil surface.
Keywords
About the authors
D. A. Severgina
Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Email: arzubov-2000@mail.ru
Postgraduate student, Junior Researcher at the Soil Science Department,
Institute of Biology of Komi Science Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
(IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS).
P. A. Arzubov
Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University
Email: arzubov-2000@mail.ru
Postgraduate student, Pitirim Sorokin Syktyvkar State University; Senior
Laboratory Assistant at the Soil Science Department, IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS.
I. V. Payusova
Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Email: arzubov-2000@mail.ru
Postgraduate student and Senior Laboratory Assistant at the Soil Science Department, IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS.
Russian Federation, 28, Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar, 167982A. F. Osipov
Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Email: arzubov-2000@mail.ru
Candidate of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher, Department of Forest Biological Problems of the North, IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS.
Russian Federation, 28, Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar, 167982A. A. Dymov
Institute of Biology of Komi Scientific Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Author for correspondence.
Email: arzubov-2000@mail.ru
Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor, Leading Researcher at the Soil Science Department, IB FRC Komi SC UB RAS.
Russian Federation, 28, Kommunisticheskaya St., Syktyvkar, 167982References
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