Quality and quantity of topsoil organic matter in monospecific and mixed pine forests (Pinus sylvestris L. and P. pinaster Aiton): role of overstory and understory vegetation

Research paper

Key message

Divergent patterns of small-scale topsoil organic matter (OM) indicators were identified in mixed vs. monospecific pine forests: tree species identity drives OM quantity, while the C/N ratio is additionally shaped by both overstory and understory diversity. The greater diversity of litter inputs in mixed stands likely accounts for their higher topsoil quality.

Keywords
Mixed vs. monospecific pine forests; Small scale; Scots pine; Maritime pine; Topsoil TOC and C/N; Understory alpha richness

Publication
López-Marcos, D., Turrión, MB., García-Duro, J. et al. Quality and quantity of topsoil organic matter in monospecific and mixed pine forests (Pinus sylvestris L. and P. pinaster Aiton): role of overstory and understory vegetation. Annals of Forest Science 83, 35 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-026-01352-8

Handling editor
Erwin Dreyer