Fundamentals
Litterfall
The annual shedding of leaves, twigs and reproductive parts that transfers carbon from vegetation to soil.
Litterfall is the main pathway by which above-ground production enters the soil pool. Measured with traps emptied on a schedule, it links biomass growth to soil carbon accumulation.
Seasonality drives the signal strongly, so trap emptying intervals must be short enough to avoid decomposition losses between collections in wet, warm environments.
Frequently asked questions
Why measure it at all?
Because soil carbon models need an input flux, and litterfall supplies it empirically.
Does it vary by species?
Substantially, in quantity, timing and decomposability.