Plant nutrient dynamics in decomposing needle litter were measured during a 5-year period in a Scots pine forest in central Sweden. As seen over the whole 5-year period, the nutrients were retained (to a litter weight loss of about 75%) in the order Mn < Ca < K < Mg < S < N < P. During the first 1.5 years there was a net increase of N and P whereafter a net release took place. A similar but less pronounced development could be seen for S, whereas Ca, K, Mn, and Mg were released from the start of the incubation. It is suggested that P was the most limiting element for microbial activity during this first phase. There appeared to be only little initial leaching from the litter and the different behaviours of the elements could largely be explained by their concentration in litter in relation to the needs of microorganisms and to their solubility. K and Mg were the elements that were released at rates most similar to organic matter weight loss.

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