Table 1. Geographic location, main environmental characteristics, soil physical and geochemical parameters of the three regions.

			Management types	Plots	pH	Sand[g/kg]	Silt[g/kg]	Clay[g/kg]	Corg[g/kg]	Nt[g/kg]	C:Nratio
Scchwäbische Alb	Location	SW Germany	Beech age-classforest managed	AEW04	6.4	70	534	396	78.5	6.0	13.1
		48° 34′ 58.8″ N, 9° 30′5.4′′ E		AEW05	4.5	47	587	368	57.5	4.5	12.9
	Elevation [m a.s.l.]	460–860		AEW06	5.4	107	575	318	39.1	3.2	12.4
	MAT [°C]	6–7	Beech unmanagedforest	AEW07	4.9	109	371	520	77.6	5.5	14.0
	MAP [mm]	700–1000		AEW08	5.1	34	296	670	105.0	6.8	15.5
				AEW09	6.4	56	495	449	60.0	4.5	13.4
Hainich-Dün	Location	Central Germany	Beech age-classforest managed	HEW04	6.2	28	665	307	79.4	5.8	13.7
		51° 1′ 17′′ N, 10° 30′36′′ E		HEW05	4.8	34	509	457	61.8	4.9	12.5
	Elevation [m a.s.l.]	285–550		HEW06	4.2	35	751	214	34.4	2.4	14.1
	MAT [°C]	6.5–8	Beech unmanagedforest	HEW10	4.8	34	481	485	67.6	5.1	13.3
	MAP [mm]	500–800		HEW11	4.8	30	566	404	58.5	4.5	13.1
				HEW12	3.9	46	790	164	31.1	2.0	15.3
Schorfheide Chorin	Location	NE Germany	Beech age-classforest managed	SEW04	3.2	874	101	25	33.2	1.6	20.5
		52° 57′ 0′′ N, 13° 37′0′′ E		SEW05	3.1	981	18	1	29.6	1.6	18.3
	Elevation [m a.s.l.]	3–140		SEW06	3.3	898	79	23	31.1	1.8	17.4
	MAT [°C]	8–8.5	Beech unmanagedforest	SEW07	3.2	881	119	1	24.3	1.5	16.3
	MAP [mm]	500–600		SEW08	3.1	743	237	20	29.2	1.8	16.1
				SEW09	3.0	937	45	18	23.0	1.4	16.6

MAT – Mean annual temperature, MAP – Mean annual precipitation.