Dynamics of mineral components in the forest floor of an acidic beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest

Seasonal changes of the mineral components Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Al, Si and ash were investigated in the L1 horizon of an acidic beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest using litterbags (1 mm and 45 μm mesh-size) buried for up to 467 days in the forest floor. The element dynamics in this surface horizon were compared with the concentration and the total amount stored in a complete sequence of horizons (L1, L2, F1, F2 and H) taken from a moder profile in the Solling area. In the 1 mm litterbags with free access of the mesofauna, the concentrations of all cations were increased in comparison to the 45 μm treatment. This increase was highly significant, especially with regard to Fe and Al. The concentrations of these two cations were closely related to Si during the decomposition of fresh leaf litter in the L1 horizon. Si is the dominant element of ash in the litterbags and down the profile. The total amounts stored in the forest floor revealed that the Fe and Al input considerably exceeded the input by litter fall, and dry and wet deposition due to incorporation of mineral soil material. The input of soil material was also indicated by a decrease in the molar Si/Al ratio from 17 to 6 and in the relation of nutrient cations to ash from 30% to 2.5%.