Models of early destruction of Scots pine needles in the middle taiga of Eastern Fennoscandia
https://doi.org/10.19047/0136-1694-2025-122-41-61
Abstract
Decomposition of needle litter was studied in a series of three successive two-year experiments in a pine forest. The effect of the weather conditions proved to be significant only in the first two months of needle decomposition. Analysis of the dynamics of needle degradation in our experiments shows the early needle destruction process falls into three phases: fast (the first warm period, up to ~30% needle mass loss); moderate (from the onset of the first cold period to the onset of the second cold period, ~30% to ~55% total needle mass loss); slow (from the onset of the second cold period, from ~55% total needle mass loss onward). A comparison of empirical data on degradation dynamics with the asymptotic model revealed a 10–13% misfit in annual needle loss. The reason is the specific features of decomposition of certain chemical components of needles, especially lignin/AUR. An attempt was made to simulate the destruction of needles based on the decomposition patterns of their various chemical components. The resultant model and its simplified version quite accurately reflect the destruction characteristics but have some substantial limitations.
Supporting agencies: The studies were carried out with the financial support from the federal budget funds for the fulfilment of the State assignment of the Karelian Research Centre (Forest Research Institute, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences).
About the Author
A. N. Solodovnikov
Forest Research Institute, Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
11 Pushkinskaya St., Petrozavodsk 185910
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For citations:
Solodovnikov A.N. Models of early destruction of Scots pine needles in the middle taiga of Eastern Fennoscandia. Dokuchaev Soil Bulletin. 2025;(122):41-61. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.19047/0136-1694-2025-122-41-61
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