Estimating seasonal variations of leaf area index using litterfall collection and optical methods in four mixed evergreen–deciduous forests

Leaf area index (LAI), a critical parameter used in process models for estimating vegetation growth, can be measured through litterfall collection, which is usually referred to as a direct method. This method has been demonstrated to be applicable to deciduous forests, but few studies have used this method for estimating seasonal variations of LAI in mixed evergreen–deciduous forests. In this study, we proposed a practical method to estimate …