Chemical Composition of Litterfall in Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Forests

VIOLETA DIMITROVA1, SONYA DAMYANOVA2

1Forestry Department,

University of Forestry,

Kliment Ohridski Blv., 10, 1797, Sofia,

BULGARIA

2Ecology and Landscape architecture Department,

University of Forestry,

Kliment Ohridski Blv., 10, 1797, Sofia,

BULGARIA

Abstract: - The quantity and quality of litterfall in forests play an important role in their condition. Through it, a

large part of the chemical elements are returned to the cycle of the ecosystem, it is an essential carbon depot, it

affects regeneration, soil moisture, fertility, composition, fauna, and flora. The present study aims to evaluate the

role of the litterfall as a depot of chemical elements. The total annual amount of elements returned to the beech

forest ecosystem is 1264.97 kg.ha-1, of which macroelements are 1257.79 kg.ha-1, and microelements - are 7.19

kg.ha-1. The predominant elements are: carbon - about 80%, hydrogen - about 13%, nitrogen - 3%, and calcium -

2%. The remaining elements are represented in very small amounts – less than 1%. Microelements are presented in

the following sequence: Mg >Mn >Fe >Zn >Pb >Cu.

Key words: - Litterfall, chemical elements, common beech communities

Received: November 13, 2022. Revised: March 16, 2023. Accepted: April 11, 2023. Published: May 3, 2023.

1 Introduction

The quantity and quality of litter in forests play an

important role in their condition. It affects

regeneration, soil moisture, fertility, composition,

fauna, and flora, [1], [2]. Through it, a large part of

the chemical elements are returned to the cycle of the

ecosystem, it is an essential carbon depot, [3], [4],

[5], [6], [7]. According to some authors, [8], almost

80% of net primary production is returned to the

ecosystem through litterfall.

Based on the number of different fractions,

conclusions are made about the influence of climate

on the phenophases of tree species. This indicator is

also included as a component of forest monitoring,

[9]. Questions related to the rate of decomposition,

the organisms involved in this process, as well as the

dynamics of the elements are addressed, [10], [11],

[12], [13]. The effect of heavy metals and nutrients

on respiration rates of forest litter has been studied,

[14].

Most studies of litterfall are in managed forests,

while, [15], were conducted in Romanian virgin

beech forests mixed with Scots fir, looking for

relationships with leaf area index. The authors

conclude that in mixed forests, annual leaf fall is

more closely related to stand characteristics than to

leaf area index. 3,5 t. ha−1 were obtained as average

litterfall amounts.

In Bulgaria, studies of the chemical

composition of the litter in beech forests were done

by [16], [17].

This study is part of a project "Structure and

ecological functions of dead biomass in beech forests

(Fagus sylvatica L.) in Western Bulgaria".

2 Problem Formulation

The present study aims to evaluate the role of

litterfall as a depot of chemical elements within the

framework of the above-mentioned project. The task

is to see what elements and in what quantities are

returned through the litterfall to the turnover of the

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.38

Violeta Dimitrova, Sonya Damyanova

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

412

Volume 19, 2023

ecosystem. The research is a way to clarify the

principles of the functioning of forest communities.

2.1 Object of Investigation

The object of investigation was common beech

(Fagus sylvatica L.) communities in Vitosha and

Stara Planina mountains in Bulgaria (Fig. 1). The

climate is temperate continental and mountainous.

The soils are Cambisols.

Fig.1: Location of the sample plots

The characteristics of the beech stands are presented

in Table. 1.

Table 1. Stands characteristics in the sample plots.

Sample plot Altitude,

m Geographic

coordinates Age, years

Canopy Average

height,

Average

diameter,

Vitosha, Tihia kat, SP 1 1100

N 42,63131

E 23,22438 90 0.7 23 30

Vitosha, Zlatni mostove, SP 2 1400

N 42,61275

E 23,23578

110 0.7 25 40

Stara planina, Petrohan, SP 3

1480

N 43° 07' 21.8"

E 23° 07' 17.3"

120

Stara planina, Barzia,

SP 4

630

N 43° 10' 39.4"

E 23° 09' 11.8"

130

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.38

Violeta Dimitrova, Sonya Damyanova

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

413

Volume 19, 2023

2.2 Methods

2.2.1 Chemical Analyses

To determine elements in the litter fall, an average

sample from 3 collectors for each site was formed.

Biomass was ground to a powder using a grinding

mill. Main components such as carbon, nitrogen, and

hydrogen were determined by Automatic Element

Analyzer Euro EA3000 type CHNSO, SINGLE. For

determination of general phosphorous and metal

content, samples were digested by heating in a

Muffle furnace at 450˚C for 4 hours. The dry

residues were dissolved into 20% hydrochloric acids.

Phosphorous was measured spectroscopically at 410

nm after forming a phosphorous-vanadium-

molybdate complex using a spectrophotometer

Lambda 5. Metals were measured using atomic

absorption spectrometry (Perkin Elmer AAS) of the

solutions. The moisture of the samples was measured

using a moisture-measuring balance.

2.2.2 Estimation of Mineral Quantities

The elements’ content was calculated by multiplying

the concentration of every element and the amount of

biomass for the corresponding site. All results are

shown as an absolutely dry mass (a.d.m.) by

correcting with coefficients corresponding to their

moisture content.

3 Problem Solution

As a result of the conducted research, data were

obtained about amounts of macro and microelements

in leaf litter in beech forests, which are listed in

Table 2.

Table 2. Chemical elements in leaf litter in beech forests (a. d. m., mg.kg-1).

Elements

SP 1 SP 2 SP 3 SP 4

Vitosha,

Tihia kat

Vitosha,

Zlatni

mostove

Stara

planina,

Petrohan

Stara

planina,

Barzia

Organic carbon (C) 458100 468400 493300 491900

Nitrogen (N) 15200 17300 19600 18400

Phosphorus (Р) 339.474 655 1218.127 560.865

Potassium (K)

4842.34

3576.3

5910.398

3569.14

Hydrogen (H)

89500

73300

77300

77600

Calcium (Ca)

11998.6

13468.9

7999.12

9304.85

Sodium (Na)

28.756

30.392

51.808

25.304

Total macroelements

580009

576731

605379.5

601360

Lead (Pb)

12.524

14.672

7.869

8.851

Magnesium (Mg) 2155.91 1936.7 1205.03 2292

Copper (Cu) 4.891 4.297 4.973 4.181

Iron (Fe) 185.438 150.912 153.567 142.266

Manganese (Mn) 1241.63 1397.51 1308.32 1356.96

Zink (Zn)

30.638

36.68

29.511

25.195

Total microelements

3631.03

3540.77

2709.27

3829.45

Total

583640.2

580271.4

608088.72

605189.6

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.38

Violeta Dimitrova, Sonya Damyanova

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

414

Volume 19, 2023

The average amounts of the elements for Vitosha

Mountain are 58,2.104 mg.kg-1. The sum of

macroelements (57,8.104 mg.kg-1) significantly

exceeds the number of microelements (0,3.104

mg.kg-1). Carbon predominates of the

macroelements, - 46,3.104 (mg.kg-1), and of the

microelements – magnesium (Fig. 2). Trace elements

are in the following sequence: Mg >Mn >Fe >Zn >Pb

>Cu. No significant differences in the number of

elements were observed between the two sample

plots.

The average amounts of elements for the sample

plots in the Western Stara Planina are 60,7.104

mg.kg-1. Here, too, the main amount of elements are

the macroelements (60,3.104 mg.kg-1), and the

microelements are an insignificant amount (0,4.104

mg.kg-1). The largest percentage is represented by

carbon, and the smallest by sodium From the

macroelements (Fig. 2). The trace elements are in the

same sequence as in Vitosha. Between the two

sample plots, no significant differences in the number

of elements are observed here either.

When comparing the average results from the

two mountains, it can be seen that the lead is

significantly more in the sample areas in Vitosha. A

possible reason could be their proximity to a road.

The percentage ratios of all elements are similar

(Fig.2). The predominant elements are: carbon -

about 80%, hydrogen - about 13%, nitrogen - 3%,

and calcium - 1%. The remaining elements are

represented in very small amounts – less than 1%.

Fig. 2: Percentage distribution of the studied

elements in beech leaf litter in Vitosha and Stara

Planina. The stores of leaf litter for Vitosha are

respectively SP 1 – 157,54 g.m-2, SP 2 – 172,56 g.m-

2, and for Western Stara Planina – SP 3 – 262,57 g.m-

2, SP 4 – 254,89 g.m-2. Detailed information on the

amounts of litterfall and its fractions is available in a

publication by [18].

In recent decades, the litterfall in forest

ecosystems has received increasing attention. Many

authors discuss the topic, such as [7], who

investigated the amount and chemical composition of

litter in Eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky)

forests in Turkey. In this case, average amounts of

litterfall between 3602-6160 kg.ha-1 were obtained.

The leaves are 62% of all litterfall. The measured

concentrations in the leaves were lower than our

results for: P -138,373 mg.kg-1, K – 1416,5 mg.kg-1,

Pb – 1,387 mg.kg-1, Zn- 13,333 mg.kg-1; higher for

Na – 187,993 mg.kg-1 and approximately the same

for: Ca – 10,4.103, Mg – 1.3.103, Cu – 4,27 mg.kg-1,

Fe – 130,75 mg.kg-1, Mn- 1,6.103 mg.kg-1.

In our previous studies of litterfall in beech

forests, the following amounts of elements were

obtained in the leaves: carbon – 35.104 mg.kg-1,

nitrogen – 1,2.104 mg.kg-1, phosphorus – 780 mg.kg-1

calcium – 1,6. 104 mg.kg-1, Mg – 1,1.104 mg.kg-1,

copper – 8,1 mg.kg-1, iron – 222,3 mg.kg-1, Mn –

591,7 mg.kg-1, iron – 48,1 mg.kg-1, [17]. The results

are comparable to those obtained in the present study.

The average annual stocks of elements in Vitosha

are 960.52 kg.ha-1, and in Stara Planina, they are

1569.42 kg.ha-1 (Table 3).

Table 3. Annual stocks of elements in leaf litter

(a.d.m, kg.ha-1).

Elements

Vitosha

Stara

planina

Organic carbon (C)

764.59

1274.41

Nitrogen (N)

26.82

49.15

Phosphorus (Р) 0.82 2.3

Potassium (K) 6.94 12.62

Hydrogen (H) 134.35 200.37

Calcium (Ca) 21.01 22.38

Sodium (Na) 0.05 0.09

Total macroelements

954.59

1560.98

Lead (Pb)

0.02

Magnesium (Mg)

3.38

4.52

Copper (Cu)

0.01

Iron (Fe)

0.28

0.38

Manganese (Mn)

2.18

3.45

Zink (Zn) 0.06 0.07

Total microelements

5.92

8.46

Total

960.52

1569.42

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.38

Violeta Dimitrova, Sonya Damyanova

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

415

Volume 19, 2023

A comparison of our results for the annual sums

of the elements with those obtained by other authors

also shows a similarity in amounts. For example, in

similar previous studies, [16], elements in leaf litter

were studied, and the values were: N – 28,2 kg.ha-1,

Ca – 16,2 kg.ha-1, K – 7,4 kg.ha-1, Pb – 0.001 kg,ha-1,

Zn – 0,044 kg.ha-1, Mn – 1,878 kg.ha-1 and Fe –

0,305 kg.ha-1. They are closer to those established for

Vitosha Mountain. In the Stara Planina, the annual

amounts are slightly higher, due to the greater

amount of litterfall found.

4 Conclusion

The average annual reserves of the elements that

return to the beech forest ecosystem are 1264,97

kg.ha-1, of which macroelements are 1257,79 kg.ha-1,

and microelements – are 7,19 kg.ha-1. The

predominant elements are: carbon - about 80%,

hydrogen - about 13%, nitrogen - 3%, and calcium -

2%. The remaining elements are represented in small

amounts - less than 1%. Microelements are presented

in the following sequence: Mg >Mn >Fe >Zn >Pb

>Cu.

During future research, it will be examined forest

mulch (weight and composition) to determine the

element’s turnover rates.

As a result of the conducted research, it can be

concluded that the leaf litter represents a significant

depot of elements, with the largest percentage being

carbon.

Acknowledgments:

The studies were funded by the project: "Structure

and ecological functions of dead biomass in beech

forests (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Western Bulgaria“, КP

– 06-Н54/1, 2021, Ministry of Education and

Science, Scientific Researches Fund.

References:

[1] Sayer, E., Using experimental manipulation to

assess the roles of leaf litter in the functioning

of forest ecosystems, Biological Reviews, V.

81(1), 2006, pp.1-31.

[2] Langenbruch, C., Helfrich, M., Flessa, H.,

Effects of beech (Fagus sylvatica), ash

(Fraxinus excelsior) and lime (Tilia spec.) on

soil chemical properties in a mixed deciduous

forest, Plant and Soil, V. 352 (1-2), 2012, pp.

389-403.

[3] Kavvadias, V.A., Alifragis, D., Tsiontsis, A.,

Brofas, G., Stamatelos, G., Litterfall, litter

accumulation and litter decomposition rates in

four forest ecosystems in northern Greece,

Forest Ecology and Management, V.144(1),

2001, pp.113-127.

[4] Hansen, K., Vesterdal, L., Schmidt, I.K.,

Gundersen, P., Sevel, L., Bastrup-Birk, A.,

Pedersen, L.B., Bille-Hansen, J., Litterfall and

nutrient return in five tree species in a common

garden experiment, Forest ecology and

management, V. 257(10), 2009, pp. 2133-2144.

[5] Meier, I., Leuschner, C., Hertel, D., Nutrient

return with leaf litter fall in Fagus sylvatica

forests across a soil fertility gradient, Plant

Ecology, V. 177(1), 2005, pp. 99-112.

[6] Ukonmaanaho, L., Merilä, P., Nöjd, P.,

Nieminen, T., Litterfall production and nutrient

return to the forest floor in Scots pine and

Norway spruce stands in Finland, Boreal

Environment Research, V. 13, 2008, pp. 67-91.

[7] Çakır M., Akburak. S., Litterfall and nutrients

return to soil in pure and mixed stands of oak

and beech. Journal of the Faculty of Forestry

Istanbul University, V. 67(2), 2017, pp. 185-

200.

[8] Kassnacht, K., Gower, S., Interrelationships

among the edaphic and stand characteristics,

leaf area index, and aboveground net primary

production of upland forest ecosystems in

north central Wisconsin, Canadian Journal of

Forest Research, V. 27(7), 1997, pp.1058-

1067.

[9] ICP-Forests. Sampling and Analysis of

Litterfall. Hamburg, Germany, 2010.

[10] Austin, A., Vivanco, L., Plant litter

decomposition in a semi-arid ecosystem

controlled by photodegradation, Nature, V.

442(7102), 2006, pp. 555-558.

[11] Berg, B., McClaugherty, C., Plant litter:

decomposition, humus formation, carbon

sequestration. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

Heidelberg, 2014.

[12] Hristovski S., Berg B., Melovski L., Limitless

decomposition in leaf litter of сommon beech:

Patterns, nutrients’ and heavy metal's

dynamics, Pedobiologia, Vol. 57 (3), 2014, рр.

131-138.

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.38

Violeta Dimitrova, Sonya Damyanova

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

416

Volume 19, 2023

[13] Sarginci M., Yildiz O., Tolunay D., Toprak B.,

Temür Ş., Leaf litter dynamics in Western

Black Sea mountainous forest ecosystems.

Сanadian Journal of Forest Research, 2021,

https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2020-0489

[14] Laskowski R., Maryanski M., Niklihska M.,

Effect of heavy metals and mineral nutrients on

forest litter respiration rate, Environ. Pollut.,

84(1), 1994, pp. 97-102. doi: 10.1016/0269-

7491(94)90076-0

[15] Petritan I., V. Mihăilă, C. Bragă, M. Boura, D.

Vasile, A. Petritan, Litterfall production and

leaf area index in a virgin European beech

(Fagus sylvatica L.) – Silver fir (Abies alba

Mill.) forest. Dendrobiology, V. 83, 2020, pp.

75–84.

[16] Lyubenovа M., Dimitrova V., Chemical

Elements in Mulch and Litterfall of Beech

Ecosystems and Their Total Turnover.

Ecologia Balcanica, ISSN 1314-0213, V. 3(1),

2011, pp. 51-57.

[17] Dimitrova V., Damyanova S. Litterfall in

common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest

communities – a depot of important chemical

elements. Scientific studies of the Union of

Scientists, Plovdiv. Series B: Natural Sciences

and Humanities, ISSN: 1311-9192,

eISSN: 2534-9376, V.18, 2018, pp. 59-63.

[18] Dimitrova V., Dimitrov D., Malchev D.

Litterfall in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests.

Proc. of Vth International Halich Congress of

Multidisciplinary Scientific Research, 15-

16.01.23, Turkey, M. Eliacik (Ed.), Iksad

Publishing House, 2023, pp.702-706.

Contribution of Individual Authors to the

Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting

Policy)

-Violeta Dimitrova carried out the calculation and

representation of the results.

-Sonya Damianova organized and executed the

experiments.

Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a

Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself

The studies were funded by the project: "Structure

and ecological functions of dead biomass in beech

forests (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Western Bulgaria“, КP

– 06-Н54/1, 2021, Ministry of Education and

Science, Scientific Researches Fund.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

(Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.0)

This article is published under the terms of the

Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en_

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.38

Violeta Dimitrova, Sonya Damyanova

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

417

Volume 19, 2023