土地利用方式变化对湘中丘陵区土壤碳氮含量的影响

对湘中丘陵区水田、旱地、农田、撂荒地和林地5种土地利用方式下土壤碳氮含量垂直分布特征进行比较分析。结果表明:5种土地利用方式下,土壤有机碳含量的空间垂直分布基本随着土层深度的增加而降低,水田的土壤全氮、有机碳平均含量、土壤容重均值均高于旱地土壤,水田土壤全氮含量、有机碳含量、土壤容重分别为2.03%、3.89 g/kg、1.20 g/cm~3;农田土壤的有机碳、全氮含量、碳氮比均高于撂荒地土壤的;水田转化为林地后,土壤全氮含量和有机碳含量分别比水田土壤低212.00%和80.80%,而土壤容重比水田的高7.69%,但林地土壤的容重高于农田;农田撂荒后,土壤的全氮含量变化规律呈现随土层深度增加而减少的趋势,最高值出现在0~5 cm土层,为0.314%,最低值出现在30~35 cm土层,为0.052%。     

土地利用方式对土壤有机碳和碳库管理指数的影响

土壤碳库管理指数反映土壤管理的科学性.对比研究了干热河谷新银合欢林、苏门答腊金合欢林、大叶相思林、印楝林、荒地和旱耕地土壤有机碳(SOC)、易氧化有机碳(ROC)含量和土壤碳库管理指数.结果表明:6种土地利用方式下SOC和ROC含量范围分别为4.22～5.92 g·kg-1和1.34～2.33 g·kg-1.各利用方式...     

不同土地利用方式对土壤有机碳库及其稳定性的影响

土地利用变化对土壤有机碳循环具有重要的影响。本研究通过野外调查和室内培养法,分别选取了3种不同土地利用方式的表层和深层土壤为研究对象。结果表明:土地利用变化显著降低了土壤有机碳的含量,表层0~10cm土壤有机碳分别降低了22.2%和32.2%;次生林表层土壤有机碳矿化量分别是杉木人工林和果园的2.0倍和1.8倍;而深层土壤分别是杉木人工林和果园的1.7倍和1.4倍;次生林转变为人工林后,土壤有机碳稳定性显著降低,且对深层土壤有机碳稳定性影响高于表层土壤。因此,今后森林经营过程中应减少人为活动的影响,避免加剧土壤有机碳的损失和稳定性的降低。     

湘中丘陵区不同土地利用方式土壤碳氮含量的特征

对湘中丘陵区杉木人工林、油茶经济林、苗圃地、坡耕地、采伐迹地、弃耕地6种土地利用方式下土壤碳氮含量垂直分布特征进行比较分析.结果表明:6种土地利用方式下,土壤有机碳含量的空间垂直分布大体随着土层的深入而降低,按分异程度(变异系数)由大到小的次序为:弃耕地(80.09%)>经济林地(67.21%)>坡耕地(62.41%)>杉木人工林(58.03%)>苗圃地(35.58%)>采伐迹地(25.32%);6种土地利用方式的土壤有机碳加权平均含量(g/kg)从高到低依次为:采伐迹地(9.87)>经济林(9.78)>弃耕地(7.35)>杉木人工林(6.84)>坡耕地(5.48)>苗圃地(5.36);6种土地利用方式的土壤有机碳含量在空间分布上呈极显著差异(F=5.43,p<0.01);土壤全氮含量的空间垂直分布与有机碳相似,按分异程度(变异系数)由大到小的次序为:弃耕地(55.71%)>坡耕地(48.43%)>经济林地(46.22%)>杉木人工林(33.75%)>采伐迹地(20.56%)>苗圃地(19.65%);6种土地利用方式的土壤全氮加权平均含量(g/kg)从高到低依次为:采伐迹地(0.84)>弃耕地(0.80)>坡耕地(0.78)>经济林(0.75)>苗圃地(0.71)>杉木人工林(0.62),且6种土地利用方式的土壤全氮含量在空间水平分布上呈极显著差异(F=4.63,p<0.01);不同土地利用方式下,土壤铵态氮、硝态氮空间垂直分布没有明显的规律性,水解氮空间垂直分布表现为表层较其它土层高;6种土地利用方式的土壤铵态氮含量在空间分布上呈显著差异(F=2.30,p<0.05),硝态氮含量呈极显著差异(F=3.34,p<0.01),水解氮含量无显著性差异(F=1.21,p>0.05);土壤有机碳含量与土壤全氮含量之间均存在极显著线性正相关(R2≥0.84,p<0.01).     

不同整地方式对长江滩地防护林土壤有机碳和全氮含量及密度的影响

湿地土壤碳(C)和氮(N)在湿地生态系统和全球碳氮循环中起着重要作用。为了阐明人类活动对湿地生态系统C库和N库的影响,本研究以西洞庭湖开沟和不开沟整地滩地防护林为研究对象,通过系统调查和土壤样品采集分析,探讨了不同整地方式对长江中下游滩地防护林土壤C和N的影响。研究结果表明：在不开沟样地中,0～100 cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)含量及密度的变化均表现为CK>8年林龄>3年林龄;在开沟造林样地中,SOC和TN含量和密度在0～30 cm和30～60 cm土层随林龄增大先增加后减小,而在60～100 cm土层随林龄增大而减小。整地方式显著影响土壤SOC和TN含量,但对土壤SOC和TN密度影响不显著。因此,应合理确定长江中下游滩地防护林的规模,禁止在相对高程较低的区域采用开沟方式营建防护林。     

不同土地利用方式对湘中丘陵区土壤质量的影响

对湘中丘陵区7种典型土地利用方式(次生林、经济林、杉木人工林、苗圃地、坡耕地、采伐迹地、弃耕地)的表层(0～15 cm)土壤性状进行比较分析,筛选出土壤密度、pH值、有机碳、全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量作为土壤质量评价指标,运用土壤质量综合指数和土壤退化指数评价不同土地利用方式的土壤质量水平及退化程度.结果表明:7种不同土地利用方式之间,表层土壤密度、pH值、有机碳、全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量均表现为差异显著;7种土地利用方式的土壤质量综合指数表现为次生林(95.35%)>经济林(73.83%)>采伐迹地(64.41%)>杉木人工林(62.61%)>弃耕地(56.30%)>坡耕地(27.35%)>苗圃地(4.84%),土壤退化指数表现为次生林(0)>经济林(-9.90%)>采伐迹地(-14.35%)>杉木人工林(-14.96%)>弃耕地(-22.22%)>坡耕地(-32.16%)>苗圃地(-40.44%),土壤退化指数与土壤质量综合指数评价结果一致,表明土壤退化指数和土壤质量综合指数均能有效地评价不同土地利用方式的土壤质量.     

氮添加对黄河三角洲滨海湿地土壤有机碳矿化的影响

在山东黄河三角洲国家级自然保护区大气氮沉降模拟实验区样地采集表层(0-10 cm)和下层(10-20cm)两层土壤样本,设置NH_4NO_3、NH_4Cl、KNO_3三种氮肥类型以及5 gN·m~(-2)·yr~(-1)、10 g N·m~(-2)·yr~(-1)、20 gN·m~(-2)·yr~(-1)3种施氮浓度梯度,通过26 d室内恒温矿化培养试验,测定温室气体CO_2释放速率和累计释放量,研究模拟氮沉降对滨海湿地土壤有机碳矿化影响。不同处理下土壤有机碳的累积矿化量随培养时间逐渐增加,培养初始阶段的增长速率较快,前10 d土壤累积矿化量约占整个培养期内总矿化量的50%左右,而后逐渐减慢。外源氮添加促进了滨海湿地土壤有机碳的累积矿化量,上下层土壤实验处理较对照分别增加7.60%～68.60%、6.75%～67.24%,铵态氮(NH_4NO_3、NH_4Cl)均表现为中氮组(41.39%、68.60%)高氮组(27.02%、53.69%)低氮组(13.78%、7.60%),硝态氮(KNO_3)表现为高氮组(66.12%)低氮组(49.05%)中氮组(32.10%)。较高或较低氮浓度下,硝态氮对有机碳矿化的促进作用强于铵态氮,但在中氮组中NH_4Cl处理组有机碳平均矿化量最高,达1411.82μg/g soil。下层土壤中,NH4Cl实验组的促进作用在不同施氮量下均最高,有机碳平均矿化量分别为666.90μg/g soil、797.28μg/g soil、834.98μg/g soil。各处理土壤表层有机碳累积矿化量显著高于底层土壤(P0.05),即表明上层土壤有机碳含量较高。     

抚育强度对云杉林土壤有机碳含量的影响

笔者分析了川西米亚罗林区典型低效林经不同强度的抚育间伐后,对5种处理的2个土层(0 cm~15 cm,15 cm~30 cm)的土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳含量的变化进行了动态监测,并分析了土壤总有机碳和微生物量碳含量的季节变化。结果表明,5种处理的土壤总有机碳和微生物量碳含量均是上层高于下层;在观测的4个季节内,上层、下层土壤总有机碳均是夏季春季冬季秋季,土壤总有机碳含量的上、下层均值是F3F2F1F4CK;土壤微生物量碳含量均是秋季冬季春季夏季;土壤微生物量碳含量的上、下层均值表现为F3F2F1CKF4,而且30%的间伐强度样地土壤总有机碳含量和微生物量碳含量均最高。     

不同林龄桉树人工林土壤有机碳的变化

对不同林龄的桉树人工林土壤有机碳的剖面分布特征进行了研究.结果显示,桉树人工林土壤总有机碳、易氧化态有机碳和稳定态有机碳含量均随土层深度的增加而减小.随林龄的增加呈现先增加后减小的折线变化,土壤总有机碳和易氧化态有机碳含量4a时最大,二者正相关性极强;稳定态有机碳在2a最大,4 a时下降幅度最大,与pH值呈极显著负相关关系.说明4a桉树林地土壤养分含量最高,根系对稳定态有机碳的转化量最大.桉树根系可伸入1 m的土层吸收利用稳定态有机碳,反应其较强的吸收利用养分的能力,同时也降低了土壤碳汇稳定性.     

桃江县不同年龄毛竹林土壤有机碳和全氮积累特征

碳和氮是森林生态系统的重要组分,也是维持其结构和功能的两个重要元素。本研究以桃江县不同年龄(1年生,3年生,5年生)毛竹林为研究对象,对其土壤容重、有机碳和全氮特征进行研究。结果表明,不同年龄毛竹林地土壤容重在1.003～1.268g/cm3之间,土壤有机碳和全氮含量在年龄梯度上逐渐增加,但随着土层深度的增加,不同年龄土壤有机碳和全氮含量均逐渐下降;不同年龄毛竹林土壤有机碳储量分别为117.339、124.901、138.978 t/hm2,土壤氮储量分别为8.180、9.181、10.266 t/hm2,均随着年龄的增加而增大。不同生长阶段,土壤有机碳的积累速率要明显高于全氮。在土壤剖面上,土壤有机碳和全氮的积累速率出现非一致性的变化。     

土壤有机碳动态模型的研究进展

As the largest pool of terrestrial organic carbon, soils interact strongly with atmosphere composition, climate, and land change. Soil organic carbon dynamics in ecosystem plays a great role in global carbon cycle and global change. With development of mathematical models that simulate changes in soil organic carbon, there have been considerable advances in understanding soil organic carbon dynamics. This paper mainly reviewed the composition of soil organic matter and its influenced factors, and recommended some soil organic matter models worldwide. Based on the analyses of the developed results at home and abroad, it is suggested that future soil organic matter models should be developed toward based-process models, and not always empirical ones. The models are able to reveal their interaction between soil carbon systems, climate and land cover by technique and methods of GIS (Geographical Information System) and RS (Remote Sensing). These models should be developed at a global scale, in dynamically describing the spatial and temporal changes of soil organic matter cycle. Meanwhile, the further researches on models should be strengthen for providing theory basis and foundation in making policy of green house gas emission in China.     

Soil organic carbon stock in the Belgian Ardennes as affected by afforestation and deforestation from 1868 to 2005

The effects of historical land use changes on the global C cycle have mainly been studied by means of bookkeeping models. Here, we investigate with such models the impact of afforestation and deforestation on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. This approach, using field-based estimates of the response of SOC upon land use changes, is applied to a pilot area in the Belgian Ardennes over one and a half century (1868–2005). After a small initial decline during the 1868–1888 period due to deforestation for agricultural use, mean SOC stocks increased steadily up to 1990, due essentially to the conversion of deciduous to coniferous forests (in the study area, deciduous forests stored less SOC than coniferous) and the reclamation of heathland, which occurred both at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Simulations showed that SOC stocks decreased recently (1990–2005) because of the slow down of sequestration in coniferous forests and a reversion of some of the coniferous plantations to deciduous forests. Over the entire period, afforestation resulted in a net sequestration of carbon (0.16 t C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that the model was highly sensitive to its inputs (initial SOC stocks for each land use) both in term of predicted SOC stocks and rates of SOC stocks change. However, the sensitivity of the model was not large enough to revert the main trends of SOC changes observed. Compared to the amount of carbon sequestered in the biomass, the contribution of soils to the C sink in forest is small. Despite several sources of errors, a detailed reconstruction of land use changes combined with realistic SOC response curves upon land use conversion are required to be able to quantify the contribution of soils to terrestrial carbon fluxes.     

杉木火力楠混交林与杉木纯林土壤碳氮库研究

通过实地调查取样和室内C、N元素分析仪的测定,比较了杉木纯林与杉木火力楠混交林的土壤碳库及垂直分布差异,结果显示:混交林的土壤有机碳含量比纯林高,其有机碳贮量比杉木纯林大17.57%,主要差异在枯枝落叶层,分别为3.620 t.hm-2和12.610 t.hm-2。有机碳富集指数20~40 cm差异最大,混交林富集指数是纯林的1.18倍。混交林土壤有机碳贮量(79.460 t.hm-2)大于杉木纯林(67.583 t.hm-2),且均以表层(0~20 cm)碳贮量为主。混交林的全氮含量高于纯林,C/N则低于纯林。这些差异主要是由不同林分凋落物数量和性质上的差异引起的。杉木和火力楠混交林比杉木纯林更有利于碳的贮存,人工造林应多发展混交林。     

Vertical variation and storage of nitrogen in an aquic brown soil under different land uses

The vertical variation and storage of nitrogen in the depth of 0–150 cm of an aquic brown soil were studied under 14 years of four land use patterns, i.e., paddy field, maize field, fallow field and woodland in Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in November of 2003. The results showed that different land uses had different profile distributions of soil total nitrogen (STN), alkali N, ammonium (NH₄ ⁺-N) and nitrate (NO₃ ⁻-N). The sequence of STN storage was woodland>maize field>fallow field>paddy field, while that of NO₃ ⁻-N content was maize field>paddy field>woodland>fallow field, suggesting the different root biomass and biological N cycling under various land uses. The STN storage in the depth of 0–100 cm of woodland averaged to 11.41 t·hm⁻¹, being 1.65 and 1.25 times as much as that in paddy and maize fields, respectively, while there was no significant difference between maize and fallow fields. The comparatively higher amount NO₃ ⁻-N in maize and paddy fields may be due to nitrogen fertilization and anthropogenic disturbance. Soil alkali N was significantly related with STN, and the correlation could be expressed by a linear regression model under each land use (R ²≥0.929,p<0.001). Such a correlation was slightly closer in nature (woodland and fallow field) than in agro ecosystems (paddy and maize fields). Heavy N fertilization induced an excess of crop need, and led to a comparatively higher amount of soil NO₃ ⁻-N in cultivated fields than in fallow field and woodland. It is suggested that agroforestry practices have the potential to make a significant contribution to both crop production and environment protection. Foundation item: The project was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-413-9) and Fund of Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology, CAS (STZ0204) Biography: ZHANG Yu-ge, (1968-), female, Ph.D. candidate, associate research fellow in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P.R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

潮棕壤不同利用方式土壤氮的垂直变化及氮储量

对中国科学院沈阳生态实验站潮棕壤在水稻田、玉米地、撂荒地和林地等经过14年不同利用方式后0-150cm各土层(2003年11月取样)N的剖面分布及N储量进行研究的结果表明不同利用方式下土壤全N、碱解N、NH4+-N和NO3--N含量发生明显的剖面差异;土壤N储量为林地>玉米地>撂荒地>水稻田,NO3--N含量为玉米地>水稻田>林地>撂荒地,说明不同利用方式下生物量差异及N的生物循环对N行为的影响。100cm深度林地土壤平均N储量为11.41t穐m-2,分别是水稻田和玉米地土壤的1.65和1.25倍,而玉米地和撂荒地的土壤N储量无显著差异。玉米地和水稻田相对较高的NO3--N含量可能由于过量施用N肥和人为干扰所致。土壤碱解N与全N含量呈线性正相关关系(R20.929,p<0.001),而自然生态系统(林地和撂荒地)中的相关性略高于农田生态系统(水稻田和玉米地)。过量施用N肥还导致耕地土壤中比撂荒地和林地积累更多的NO3--N。研究结果表明,农林复合系统对于作物生产和环境保护具有重要的潜在贡献。图2表5参23。     

Changes in dissolved organic matter with depth suggest the potential for postharvest organic matter retention to increase subsurface soil carbon pools

Research into postharvest management of forests often focuses on balancing the need for increased biomass yield against factors that may directly impact the productivity of the subsequent stand (e.g. nutrient and water availability, soil microclimate, etc.). Postharvest organic matter management, however, also exerts a strong influence over the translocation of carbon (C) into and through the soil profile and may provide a mechanism to increase soil C content. The effects of contrasting postharvest organic matter retention treatments (bole-only removal, BO; whole-tree removal, WT) on soil solution C concentration and quality were quantified at the Fall River and Matlock Long-term Soil Productivity (LTSP) studies in Washington state. Solutions were collected monthly at depths of 20 and 100 cm and analyzed for dissolved organic C (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and DOC:DON ratio. Comparisons of DOC concentrations with depth illustrate divergent trends between the two treatments, with an overall decrease in DOC with depth in the BO treatment and either an increase or no change with depth in the WT treatment. Trends in DON concentrations with depth were less clear, partly due to the very low concentrations observed, although the relationship of DOC:DON with depth shows a decrease in the BO treatment and little to no change in DOC quality in the WT treatment. This illustrates that more recalcitrant organic matter (higher DOC:DON) is being removed from solution as it moves through the soil profile. Only 35–40% of the DOC moving past 20 cm in the BO treatment is present at 100 cm. Conversely, 98–117% of the DOC at 20 cm in the WT treatment is present at 100 cm. Thus, 11 and 30 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ are removed from solution between 20 and 100 cm in the BO treatment at the Matlock and Fall River LTSP studies, respectively. Although much of this C is often assumed to be utilized for microbial respiration, DOC:DON ratios of the potential organic substrates and the unique mineralogy of the soils of this region suggest that a significant portion may in fact be incorporated into a more recalcitrant soil C pool. Thus, postharvest organic matter retention may provide a mechanism to increase soil C sequestration on these soils.     

Factors affecting soil organic carbon in a Phyllostachys edulis forest

Phyllostachys edulis plays an important role in maintaining carbon cycling.We examined the effects of soil properties on organic carbon content in a P.edulis forest on Dagang Mountain,Jiangxi Province,China.Based on correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyses,the effects of seven soil factors on organic carbon and their sensitivities to change were studied using path and sensitivity analyses.The results revealed differences in the interconnections and intensities of soil factors on organic carbon.Soil porosity,field capacity,and ammonium nitrogen levels were the main factors affecting organic carbon in the ecosystem.Soil porosity had a strong direct effect on organic carbon content and a strong indirect effect through field capacity.Field capacity and ammonium nitrogen levels mainly affected organic carbon directly.Field capacity,soil porosity,and ammonium nitrogen content,as well as bulk density,b-glucosidase activity,and invertase activity,were sensitive factors.Polyphenol oxidase activity was insensitive.Our study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the effects of soil factors on organic carbon,which can be utilised to improve P.edulis forest management strategies and promote carbon sequestration capacities.     

Active organic carbon pool of coniferous and broad-leaved forest soils in the mountainous areas of Beijing

In order to explore the effects of different forest types on active soil carbon pool, the amounts and density of soil organic carbon (SOC) were studied at different soil horizons under typical coniferous and broad-leaved forests in the mountainous area of Beijing. The results showed that the amount of total SOC, readily oxidizable carbon and particulate organic carbon decreased with increasing depths of soil horizons and the amounts at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm in broad-leaved forest was clearly higher than that in coniferous forests. The trend of a decrease in SOC density with increasing depth of the soil horizon was similar to that of the amount of SOC. However, no regular trend was found for SOC density at different depths between coniferous forest and broad-leaved forests. The ratio of readily oxidizable carbon to total amount of SOC ranged from 0.36–0.45 and the ratio of particulate organic carbon to total amount of SOC from 0.28–0.73; the ratios decreased with increasing depths of soil horizons. Active SOC was significantly correlated with total SOC; the relationship between readily oxidizable carbon and particulate organic carbon was significant. A broad-leaved forest may produce more SOC than a coniferous forest.     

Harvest residue management and fertilisation effects on soil carbon and nitrogen in a 15-year-old Pinus radiata plantation forest

Growing interest in the use of planted forests for bioenergy production could lead to an increase in the quantities of harvest residues extracted. We analysed the change in C and N stocks in the forest floor (LFH horizon) and C and N concentrations in the mineral soil (to a depth of 0.3 m) between pre-harvest and mid-rotation (stand age 15 years) measurements at a trial site situated in a Pinus radiata plantation forest in the central North Island, New Zealand. The impacts of three harvest residue management treatments: residue plus forest floor removal (FF), residue removal (whole-tree harvesting; WT), and residue retention (stem-only harvesting; SO) were investigated with and without the mean annual application of 190 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of urea-N fertiliser (plus minor additions of P, B and Mg). Stocks of C and N in the forest floor were significantly decreased under FF and WT treatments whereas C stocks and mass of the forest floor were significantly increased under the SO treatment over the 15-year period. Averaged across all harvesting treatments, fertilisation prevented the significant declines in mass and C and N stocks of the forest floor which occurred in unfertilised plots. The C:N ratio of the top 0.1 m of mineral soil was significantly increased under the FF treatment corresponding to a significant reduction in N concentration over the period. However, averaged across all harvesting treatments, fertilisation prevented the significant increase in C:N ratio of the top 0.1 m of mineral soil and significantly decreased the C:N ratio of the 0-0.3 m depth range. Results indicate that residue extraction for bioenergy production is likely to reduce C and N stocks in the forest floor through to mid-rotation and possibly beyond unless fertiliser is applied. Forest floors should be retained to avoid adverse impacts on topsoil fertility (i.e., increased C:N ratio). Based on the rate of recovery of the forest floor under the FF treatment, stocks of C and N in the forest floor were projected to reach pre-harvest levels at stand age 18-20. While adverse effects of residue extraction may be mitigated by the application of urea-N fertiliser, it should be noted that, in this experiment, fertiliser was applied at a high rate. Assessment of the sustainability of harvest residue extraction over multiple rotations will require long-term monitoring.     

Concentrations and fluxes of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in a Picea abies chronosequence on former arable land in Sweden

Shifting land use from agriculture to forestry induces major changes in the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles, including fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON). This study investigated the long-term effects of afforestation on ecosystem DOC and DON dynamics using a chronosequence approach comprising four arable fields and nine differently aged (10–92 years) Norway spruce stands growing on similar former arable soils in the same area. Along the chronosequence, concentrations and fluxes of DOC and DON were determined in bulk precipitation, throughfall, O horizon leachate and mineral soil solution during a 2–3-year period. Soil water fluxes were calculated using a soil hydrological model (SWAP). Results showed that DOC concentrations and fluxes with throughfall were strongly positively correlated with tree height (r² = 0.95; P < 0.05 for both conc. and flux) and stand age, while DON showed no such trends, suggesting different origins of DOC and DON in throughfall. The highest concentrations and fluxes of DOC and DON occurred in soil leachate from the O horizon. Here, DOC flux was 250–310 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and DON flux 8–9 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in stands afforested between 65 and 92 years ago. Concentrations and fluxes of DOC and DON in the mineral subsoil were consistently low. Flux calculations suggest that there was a net loss of >90% (230–280 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) of DOC leached from the O horizon within 0–60 cm of the mineral soil. There was no significant effect of land use or forest age on DOC concentrations in solution from the lower part of the A horizon. The effect of time since afforestation was masked by soil properties that influence DOM retention in the mineral soil. Our data indicate that DOC concentrations in the A horizon of the sites studied were primarily related to the oxalate-extractable Al and Fe amounts in the same horizon. Afforestation of arable land induced a gradual qualitative change in soil organic matter (SOM) and dissolved organic matter (DOM), with significantly increasing C:N ratios in soil and soil solution over time. The development of an O horizon and the subsequent leaching of DOC and DON to the underlying mineral soil are important drivers of a changing soil C and N turnover following afforestation.