Amount of litter (523-2048 kg ha-1) in 2 stands of tropical deciduous forest near Varanasi, India (24.degree.42''-25.degree.50''N 83.degree.22''-83.degree.40''E) showed highest values in the summer (May and June) and minimum in the winter season (Dec.). On an average, it consisted of 29-30% woody and 70-71% leaf material. The total annual litter production was 1527 kg ha-1 (leaf 85%, woody 15%) in stand I dominated by Shorea robusta Gaertn. f. and 1826 kg ha-1 (leaf 92%, woody 8%) in stand II dominated by Terminalia tomentosa Bedd. In stand I, 60% of the litter production occurred in summer and 40% in the winter season, while the corresponding values in stand I, S. robusta (793 kg ha-1 yr-1) and in stand II, T. tomentosa (860 kg ha-1 yr-1) were main contributors to the total leaf litter production. Leaf litter production yielded highly significant (P < 0.01) positive correlations with density, frequency and importance values of the various tree species.