Best Practice Knowledge Base
5.9 Introduction of litter-rich species
When facing low soil fertility and acidification, tree species can be introduced whose leaf litter is high in essential nutrients, particularly base cations like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. When the nutrient-rich litter from these species decomposes, it releases cations that increase soil pH and improve nutrient availability, which in turn creates a better environment for plant and microbial communities. This can promote faster nutrient cycling and support higher biomass of soil organisms.
I. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Vegetation effects on soil organic matter in forested ecosystems | Spielvogel et al. | - | - | 2022 | World | English | The articles in this book analyse different aspects of vegetation impact on soil organic matter, including litter quantity and quality. | http://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-88974-399-5 |
II. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Litter quality and the law of the most limiting: Opportunities for restoring nutrient cycles in acidified forest soils | Desie et al. | 2020 | Western Europe | English | Observational study | Examines the effect of leaf litter on soil chemistry and biota in temperate forest stands along a range of sandy soil types | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134383 |
| 2 | Litter share and clay content determine soil restoration effects of rich litter tree species in forests on acidified sandy soils | Desie et al. | 2020 | Western Europe | English | Observational study | Evaluation of the effect of a rich litter species in Quercus robur forest soils | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118377 |
| 3 | Litter quality modifies soil organic carbon mineralization in an ecological restoration area | Li et al. | 2022 | Shapotou (China) | English | Experiment | Studies the impacts of litter addition on the mineralization of soil organic carbon | https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4570 |
| 4 | Litter decomposition in forest ecosystems: a review. | Krishna & Mohan | 2017 | World | English | Conceptual review | Review on litter degradation in forest (concepts, implications and methods to assess it) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40974-017-0064-9 |
| 5 | Effect of litter substrate quality and soil nutrients on forest litter decomposition: A review | Xiaogai et al. | 2012 | World | English | Narrative review | The paper looks into the relationship between soil nutrients and litter decomposition | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2013.01.006 |
| 6 | Impact of several common tree species of European temperate forests on soil fertility | Augusto et al. | 2002 | Europe | English | Narrative review | Review and quantification of the effect of common European temperate forest species on soil fertility | https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2002020 |
| 7 | Nutrient return to the forest floor through litter and throughfall under 7 forest species after conversion from Norway spruce | Carnol & Bazgir | 2013 | Europe | English | Experiment | Compares litter production and soil chemistry under 7 tree species planted following conversion from a Norway spruce monoculture | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.04.008 |
| 8 | Litter quality, mycorrhizal association, and soil properties regulate effects of tree species on the soil fauna community | Peng et al. | 2022 | World | English | Experiment | A multisite common garden experiment that saw positive effects of tree species with higher litter quality on soil fauna communities | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115570 |
| 9 | Tree species selection for optimizing soil carbon storage: Insights from litter decomposition and bacterial community analysis in coastal ecosystems | Zhou et al. | 2024 | China | English | Experiment | This study suggests that selecting tree species with rapidly decomposing litter in coastal plantations can optimize soil carbon storage | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122984 |