Determination of the amount of litterfall according to the development stages and of the carbon stock input into the litter in the oriental beech forests in the Marmara Region

This study was carried out in order to reveal the amount of litterfall according to the development stages in the oriental beech forests in the Marmara Region and the carbon stocks input into forest floor in this way. The research was conducted in a total of 18 sample plots, which differ in terms of aspect, elevation, slope, slope position and stand development stages namely the b (dbh=8.0-19,9 cm), c (dbh=20.0-35.9 cm) and d stages (dbh=36.0-51.9 cm). Five litter traps (50×50 cm) were set up each sample plot and litterfall material was collected monthly for three years. The litterfall materials taken from the field were separated into their components (leaf, branch, bark, miscellaneous) in the laboratory, dried at 65 °C until they reached a constant weight and weighed. Afterwards, carbon analysis was performed on the milled samples. The amount of litterfall in one-hectare area was determined by using the conversion coefficient to hectares of the masses of the litterfall components collected from the traps. Then, these values were multiplied by the carbon concentration obtained as a result of the analysis, and the carbon stocks into forest floor through litterfall in a hectare area were calculated. The data were evaluated with variance, correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyzes. According to the results of the research, the amount of litterfall increased depending on the growth of the development stage and the total litterfall ranged between 3959 and 5698 kg/ha/year. The weighted carbon concentration of the litterfall was determined to be 50.3%. C stock, which enters the forest floor with total litterfall, varies between 1988-2857 kg/ha/year according to the development stages. Total litterfall in beech forests was estimated by stand characteristics, climatic characteristics and physiographic factors. Using the models obtained, the amount of annual litterfall can be estimated in the beech stands in the region and in similar sites. The findings of this research can be used in modeling studies, which are among the long-term goals of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry sector.