The amount of fallen leaves, lawn clippings, and other downed plant biomass on the ground per unit area.
Used to calculate:leaves and sticks
Varies by: ecosystem
| Used | ecosystem | Reference | Location: Ecosystem (study period) |
Value | Units | Notes |
|---|
| * | Agricultural field / vegetable garden | ORNL 2012- Global Database of Soil Respiration Data | Missouri: agricultural field (1984-1986) | 428 | g / m2 | |
| * | Airfield | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Airport terminal | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Alley | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Apartment building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Beach | Dugan et al. 2011 Marine macrophyte wrack inputs... [Santa Barbara, CA] | East Campus Beach, Santa Barbara, CA: Sandy beach (August 2003) | 14 | kg / m2 | wet biomass of macroalgae |
| * | Beach | Dugan et al. 2011 Marine macrophyte wrack inputs... [Santa Barbara, CA] | Isla Vista Beach, Santa Barbara, CA: Sandy beach (August 2003) | 11 | kg / m2 | Wet macroalgae biomass |
| Beach | Dugan et al. 2011 Marine macrophyte wrack inputs... [Santa Barbara, CA] | Carpinteria City Beach, Santa Barbara, CA: Sandy beach (August 2003) | 0.41 | kg / m2 | Wet macroalgae biomass on a groomed beach | |
| Beach | McLachlan & McGwynne 1986 Do sandy beaches accumulate nitrogen? | Port Elizabeth, South Africa: Rocky beach (March 1984 - March 1985) | 72 | kg / m2 | wet biomass; observations varied widely from 0.6 to 508.3 kg/m2 over the course of the study | |
| * | Bike lane | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Bioswale | Colwell 2000- Characterization of Performance Predictors and Evaluation of Mowing Practices in Biofiltration Swales | WA, USA: urban area (1999-2000) | 6.8 | g / m2 | |
| * | Boulevard (arterial) | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Bridge | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Camp | McCoy 1998- Sand and organic amendment influences on soil physical properties related to turf establishment. | Ohio: lawn (1998) | 1.750704 | kg / m2 | We assume the same litterfall biomass density as that of a lawn. This value represents the average cli[[ing yield of perennial ryegrass. |
| * | Cemetery | McCoy 1998- Sand and organic amendment influences on soil physical properties related to turf establishment. | Ohio: lawn (1998) | 1.750704 | kg / m2 | We assume the same litterfall biomass density of a lawn. This value represents the average clipping yield of common perennial ryegrass. |
| * | Cistern / rain barrels | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Cliffs and rock outcrops | Assumed | New York City: Mannahatta () | 100 | g / m2 | Estimate based on comparison to other natural ecosystems |
| * | Cogeneration plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Compost bin | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Computer data center | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Cottages / Mobile home | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Deep water estuary | NOAA 2015 Data compilations for primary production, herbivory, decomposition, and export for different types of marine communities, 1962-2002 (NODC Accession 0054500) | Global: deepwater estuary (2015) | 0.103 | g / m2 | using same cell values from herbivory rate cells use detritus (litterfall biomass rate) and divide by 365 (litterfall biomass per day) |
| Deep water estuary | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | ||
| * | Derelict structures | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Diesel power plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Disturbed Land | Carson & Peterson 1990 Role of litter in an old-field... | Hutcheson Memorial Forest, New Brunswick, New Jersey: Solidago-dominated old field (1985-1986) | 855.7 | g / m2 | Litterfall between November 1985 and April 1986 |
| * | Eelgrass meadow | Nelson & Waaland 1997 Seasonality of eelgrass, epiphyte, and grazer biomass.... | San Juan Islands, Washington: Eelgrass meadows (July 1990 - July 1992) | 373 | g / m2 | Calculated as the difference of the summer and winter biomass values |
| * | Elevated train | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Estuary | Kirchman et al. 2004 Changes in bacterial activity and composition ... to dissolved organic matter in the Hudson River, New York | New York City Harbor: Estuary (1999 - 2001) | 3 | mg C / liter | |
| * | Factory | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Freshwater marsh | Hudon 2004- Shift in wetland plant composition and biomass following low-level episodes in the St. Lawrence River: looking into the future | Boucherville Islands, Montreal, Canado: wetland (1993-1999) | 298 | g / m2 | This value refers to the litterfall biomass density observed in a shallow marsh. |
| * | Fuel storage tank | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Garage | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Gas station | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Geothermal pump | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Graywater recycling | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Greenhouse / vertical farm | ORNL 2012- Global Database of Soil Respiration Data | Missouri: agricultural field (1984-1986) | 428 | g / m2 | We assume the same litterfall biomass density as that of a cultivated, agricultural field. |
| * | Green roof | ORNL 2012- Global Database of Soil Respiration Data | Missouri: agricultural field (1984-1986) | 428 | g / m2 | We assume the same litterfall biomass density as that of an agricultural field. |
| * | Hardwood swamp | Day 1979 Litter accumulation...Dismal Swamp VA | Mixed hardwood site: Hardwood swamp (1977) | 5484 | kg / ha | This value refers to the leaf litter standing crop of a mixed hardwood community. This is measure in kg / ha of oven-dry weight. |
| * | Heavy rail line | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Hemlock – northern hardwood forest | Fisher & Likens 1973 - Energy Flow in Bear Brook, New Hampshire: An Integrative Approach to Stream Ecosystem Metabolism | Bear Brook, NH: Mature hardwood forest (1968-1970) | 1313 | g / m2 | "woody debris" |
| Hemlock – northern hardwood forest | Campbell et al. 2000 - Detritus Production and Soil N Transformations in Old-Growth Eastern Hemlock and Sugar Maple Stands | Sylvania Wilderness, upper peninsula of Michigan, USA: Old-Growth Hemlock Forest () | 3400 | kg / ha | This value is the litterfall mass of a Hemlock plot. We converted the value to kg / ha from Mg / ha. | |
| * | High salt marsh | Long, Mason 1983 - Saltmarsh Ecology | Delaware, US: Salt marsh () | 462 | g / m2 | |
| * | Highway | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Hospital | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Hotel | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Landfill | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Lawn | McCoy 1998- Sand and organic amendment influences on soil physical properties related to turf establishment. | Ohio: lawn (1998) | 1.750704 | kg / m2 | This value represents the average clipping yield of common perennial ryegrass. |
| * | Light rail line | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Low salt marsh | Long, Mason 1983 - Saltmarsh Ecology | Delaware, US: Salt marsh () | 462 | g / m2 | |
| * | Meadow | Neufeld 2008- Evaluation of plant litter accumulation and its benefits in Manitoba pastures | Manitoba, Canada: meadow (2006-2007) | 371.1 | g / m2 | This value represents the litterfall biomass density of an ungrazed control grassland plot. |
| * | Mixed use: office / residential building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Mixed use: restaurant / office building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Mixed use: restaurant / residential building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Mixed use: restaurant / retail building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Mixed use: retail / office building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Mixed use: retail / residential building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Natural gas power plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Oak hickory forest | Monk et. al. 1970 - Biomass, Litter and Leaf Surface Area Estimates of an Oak-Hickory Forest | Global: Oak-hickory forest () | 1183.9 | g / m2 | This value includes the weight of leaf litter and the litter of large stems and bole. |
| * | Office building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Orchard | Shen et al. 2011- Blowing litter across a landscape: effects on ecosystem nutrient flux and implications for landscape management | Heshan City, Guangdong, China: orchard (2002-2004) | 219.6 | g / m2 | This value refers to the litterfall biomass density of a longan plantation. |
| * | Ornamental garden | Kumar and Nair 2004 - The enigma of tropical homegardens | Global: Tropic homegarden () | 1728 | g / m2 | |
| * | Parking lot | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Park savanna | Cothrel et al. 1997 In situ recycling of urban deciduous litter | Wooster, Ohio: Street trees (1984-1985) | 454 | g / m2 | copied from street trees |
| * | Paved ball field/court | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Pedestrian bridge | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Pedestrian street / plaza | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Permeable pavers | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Photovoltaic panels | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Pier | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Pond | Francis et al. 2007. Effects of Urbanization on the Dynamics of Organic Sediments in Temperate Lakes. | Pacific Northwest: Lakes () | 0.0106 | kg / ha | Calculated by taking the mean sum of the litterfall for the two developed lakes, divided by the average size between the two. |
| * | Public assembly hall | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| Puddles on hardtops | NULL REFERENCE | NULL REFERENCE LOCATON: NULL ECOSYSTEM (NULL STUDY PERIOD) | None | DUMMY UNIT | ||
| * | Restaurant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Retail building | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | School or university | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Sewage treatment plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Shrub land | Beier et al. 2009- Carbon and nitrogen balances for six shrublands across Europe | Wales: shrubland (1998-2004) | 79 | g / m2 | This value refers to the carbon density of aboveground litterfall. |
| Shrub land | Strojan et. al. 1979 - Litter Fall From Shrubs in the Northern Mojave Desert | Rock Valley, Nevada Test Site. Nye County, Nevada (36 degrees 42'N, 116 degrees 11' W).: Shrubland () | 217.5 | kg / ha | This value represents the average of the two litter fall values recorded in 1975 and 1976 in the Mojave Desert from the six shrub species present. | |
| * | Sidewalk | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Single family home | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Solar energy facility | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Solar heating panels | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Solid waste transfer plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Stadium | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Stream | Benfield, 1997. Comparison of Litterfall Input to Streams. | NE United States: Streams () | 267.2 | g / m2 | Calculated by averaging the litterfall density for streams between 39-43 degrees latitude (to approximate New York). |
| Stream | Fisher & Likens 1973 - Energy Flow in Bear Brook, New Hampshire: An Integrative Approach to Stream Ecosystem Metabolism | Bear Brook, NH: Stream (1968-1970) | 1.19 | kg / m2 | This value represents the mean total detritus in dry weight in the Bear Brook streambed. | |
| * | Streetcar line | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Street (collector) | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Street trees | Cothrel et al. 1997 In situ recycling of urban deciduous litter | Wooster, Ohio: Street trees (1984-1985) | 454 | g / m2 | oven dry weight of leaf litter from red maple trees |
| * | Subway | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | g / m2 | |
| * | Swimming pool | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Tidal energy facility | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Traffic slowed street | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Trail | Assumed | New York City: Mannahatta () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Tunnel | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Utility yard | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Warehouse | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Waste energy power plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Water treatment plant | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Water/wastewater storage tank | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 | |
| * | Wind farm | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | kg / m2 |