C and N inputs to the hillslope from soil O horizons
The old-growth hillslope contained 6, 4, and 11 times more O horizon mass, total C, and total N content compared to the adjacent second-growth stand, respectively (Table 1). The C:N ratio of the old-growth total O horizon was roughly half that of the second-growth hillslope. Mass and C content of litter layers were similar between hillslopes but the N concentration was twice as high in litter on the old-growth hillslope. The C concentration of the uppermost mineral soil (10cm depth) was 1.3 times higher in the second-growth forest but N concentration did not differ (Table 1).