Graça, Manuel A. S. and Zimmer, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1549-8871 (2020) Physical litter properties: leaf toughness and tensile strength. In: Methods to study litter decomposition – a practicle guide. , ed. by Bärlocher, Felix, Gessner, Mark O. and Graca, Manuel A. S.. Springer, Cham, pp. 187-193. 2nd edition ISBN 978-3-030-30514-7 DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30515-4_22.

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Abstract

Physical leaf attributes such as tensile strength and toughness have proved to be good predictors of litter decomposition by invertebrates and microbes. This chapter describes two methods for assessing leaf toughness and tensile strength, respectively. Toughness is estimated by measuring the force needed to penetrate a leaf disk with a penetrometer. The disk is placed between a basal plate and a punch, which is connected to a cup into which water is poured until a critical mass is reached so that the punch penetrates the leaf. The mass needed to reach this point is proportional to leaf toughness. Tensile strength is the force needed to tear apart a leaf sample. It can be measured with a tensiometer consisting of two pegs securing a leaf disc; one of the pegs is stationary, the other is connected to a cup into which water is poured until its force tears the leaf apart. The mass needed to reach this point is proportional to leaf tensile strength. Standardized penetrometers and tensiometers have been used to assess whether plants from different biomes differ systematically in their physical properties and decomposability.

Document Type:	Book chapter
Programme Area:	PA4
Research affiliation:	Mangrove Ecology
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30515-4_22
Date Deposited:	26 May 2026 11:28
Last Modified:	26 May 2026 11:28
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/4419

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