Wageningen study: leaf decay slows in Veluwe
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- Veluwe forests have experienced a decline in leaf litter decomposition of tens of percent between 1997 and 2021, according to long‑term measurements at the Loobos forest site.
- Michiel van der Molen reported that soil samples from Loobos forest showed a pH of 2.9, a level that suppresses microbial activity and hinders leaf litter breakdown.
- Nitrogen deposition is identified as the driver of the high soil acidity, and although its atmospheric input has fallen in recent years, its legacy effects continue to impact decomposition.
- Global measurement sites reveal a similar decline in ecosystem respiration at nearly a quarter of all long‑term monitoring locations, suggesting the phenomenon is not limited to the Netherlands.
- Carbon storage in the accumulating undecomposed leaf litter removes CO₂ from the atmosphere, but researchers warn that the disrupted nutrient cycle could threaten forest health and long‑term productivity.
Why it matters: Forests retain more carbon, aiding climate mitigation, but halted nutrient recycling jeopardizes tree health and long‑term productivity, affecting forest managers, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. The carbon lock‑up may seem beneficial, yet the imbalance could cut growth, raise pest risk, and lower timber yields, threatening sustainable forestry and regional economies.
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