Effects of Moderate Nitrate and Low Sulphate Depositions on the Status of Soil Base Cation Pools and Recent Mineral Soil Acidification at Forest Conversion Sites with European Beech (“Green Eyes”) Embedded in Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Stands

High N depositions of past decades brought changes to European forests including impacts on forest soil nutrition status. However, the ecosystem responses declining atmospheric inputs or moderate attracted only less attention so far. Our study investigated macronutrient (N, S, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) pools and fluxes at conversion sites over 80 years old in Central Germany with beech (so-called “Green Eyes” (GE)). The GE are embedded large spruce pine stands (coniferous stands: CS) all were exposed deposition rates (6.8 ± 0.9 kg ha?1 yr?1) acidic conditions (pHH2O < 4.7). Since understanding chemical status is essential for evaluation approaches, we linked patterns water-bound nutrient (2001–2018) predicted storage herbaceous tree layer litter fall (2016–2017) floor mineral stocks CS assessed 2018. results exhibited 43% (Nt) 21% (S) higher annual throughfall than GE. Seepage water 100 cm depth characterized by up fivefold NO3? (GE: 2 0.7 µmolc L?1; CS: 9 1.4 L?1) sevenfold SO42? 492 220 3672 2613 concentrations. base cation (? concentrations seepage (100 depth: 2224 1297 show significant positive correlations SO42?. Tree uptake cations associated especially a Ca2+ depletion from deeper soil. Foliar turns out be main pathway return topsoil (>59%) (>66%). (59 6 almost twice as (30 5 via stemflow. At CS, same magnitude (24 4 yr?1). Macronutrient turnover decomposition processes hampered maybe through inputs. Due its little biomass small coverage, do not exert strong influence storage. Changes species-, depth- might time-dependent, recently growing stocks. An ongoing acidification seems related decreasing (through leaching well uptake).