Plant Litter Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 May 2026 | Viewed by 1
Special Issue Editors
Interests: the structure and function of forest ecosystems; vegetation restoration and soil and water conservation in degraded ecosystems; urban forest; forest health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: microbial regulation of soil nutrient cycling in typical subtropical forests under the context of global change; responses and adaptation strategies of tropical forest plant leaf functional traits to nitrogen deposition; dynamic processes and driving mechanisms of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients in degraded red soils on slopes under different land use patterns and restoration management models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plant litter dynamics encompass processes such as litterfall input, decomposition, nutrient and carbon output, the formation of soil organic matter, and nutrient release, among others, all of which primarily regulate biogeochemical cycles in forest ecosystems. A series of factors influence litterfall input, including species composition, forest age, and climate. Decomposers are of great significance to plant litter dynamics. However, nutrient and carbon output should be given particular attention when considering Plant Litter Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems. A comprehensive understanding of plant litter dynamics benefits forest productivity and maintaining biodiversity. Therefore, in the context of global climate change, the relationship between plant litter dynamics and forest development is growing increasingly complex, underscoring the need for more studies focused on plant litter dynamics.
This Special Issue thus aims to compile important research on Plant Litter Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems, including the following topics: (1) factors regulating plant litter dynamics in various forest ecosystems; (2) comparative studies of plant litter dynamics for different forest or plant types; (3) the relationship between soil biogeochemical cycles and plant litter dynamics; and (4) the response of plant litter dynamics to human disturbance in the context of global climate change.
Prof. Dr. Yuanqiu Liu
Dr. Qifeng Mo
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- litter biomass
- litter dynamics
- carbon and nutrient release
- nitrogen deposition
- human disturbance
- precipitation change
- forest development
- biodiversity
- forest ecosystems
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