Urban Lawn Litter Decomposition Rates for 8 Tree and Shrub Species

A study measured decomposition rates for 8 tree and shrub litters in urban green spaces. Decomposition rates (k) ranged from 0.29 to 6.23 per year, with litter quality being the primary driver. The dataset, authored by Tom Künnemann and last updated in April 2026, includes results from litterbag experiments in open and wooded lawns.

Use Cases

• Modeling soil carbon dynamics based on litter decomposition rates for different species.
• Comparing decomposition rates between open and wooded lawn microclimates.
• Assessing the contribution of macrofauna to litter decomposition based on mesh size experiments.
• Analyzing the relationship between litter quality (e.g., lignin content) and decomposition speed.

Strengths

• Decomposition rates (k) are provided for 8 specific litter types, including Quercus robur and Fagus sylvatica.
• Experimental design includes paired measurements in open and wooded lawns, allowing for direct comparison.
• The study quantifies the relative influence of litter quality (R² = 0.59–0.92) versus microclimate on decomposition.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is small (122.3 KB), indicating limited scope, likely summary statistics rather than raw observational data.

Provenance

Source

figshare

Collection Method

Litterbag experiments with 5 mm and 2 mm mesh, monitoring microclimate and soil properties.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 05:39:06; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Urban green spaces; specific location not stated.