Plant source and soil interact to determine characteristics of dissolved organic matter leached into waterways from riparian leaf litter

Wetting of leaf litter accumulated in riparian zones during rainfall events provides pulses of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to rivers. Restoring riparian vegetation aims to reduce sediment and nutrient transport into rivers, however DOM from leaf litter can stimulate phytoplankton growth and interfere with water treatment processes. Improved understanding of the loads and chemical composition of DOM leached from leaf litter of different plant...