The amount of carbon contained in a unit of dry plant litter, expressed as a proportion of total literfall biomass.
Used to calculate:
Varies by: global
| Used | global | Reference | Location: Ecosystem (study period) |
Value | Units | Notes |
|---|
| * | Global entity | Magnussen & Reed 2004 Knowledge Reference for Naitonal Forest Assessment | Global: Forests () | 0.475 | proportion (0-1) | "Carbon content of litter should usually be determined from field samples since some of the material may be extremely decomposed and the carbon content may differ from that of less decomposed material. Application of a ratio approach such as that described for vegetation can be use -see section 5.1 above [C = 0.475 * B, where C is carbon content and B is oven dry weight] - but will often underestimate C content of the litter layer due to the escape of carbonic gases during the process of decomposition." |
| Global entity | Hirschel et al. 1997- Will rising atmospheric CO2 affect leaf litter quality and in situ decomposition rates in native plant communities? | Switzerland: grassland (1996) | 46.2 | % (0 - 100) |