Hygroscopic properties of the litter of coniferous and deciduous stands in central Siberia

The hygroscopic properties of the litter of coniferous (larch and pine) and deciduous (aspen and birch) stands were studied in terms of isotherms of water-vapor sorption and with use of thermal analysis methods (TG, DSC). It was found that most of the monolayer capacity belongs to subhorizons OL and OF of the larch and pine forest litters. The larch plantation litter has the highest hydrophilicity. DSC results show that the water is most strongly associated with the litter substance in subhorizon OL in coniferous plantations and OH in deciduous ones. The moisture supply in the litter of coniferous stands is greater than in deciduous ones.