Nitrogen dynamics of decomposing needle litters in three coniferous forests of the Mediterranean area

Needle decay and N dynamics of Pinus pinea, P. laricio, P. sylvestris and A bies alba were studied at three forest sites differing in their level of so il N. Only the N-rich Abies alba needles released N from the start of the i ncubation. In the first year, the litters of P, pinea and P. sylvestris acc umulated N up to 220% of the initial amount on the soil rich in N; on the p oor soils the N accumulation reached only 150% of the initial amount; betwe en sites the accumulation rates differed significantly. Thus soil N level m ay enhance N accumulation in SOM.