Desie, E., et al.
The adverse effects of soil acidification are extensive and may result in hampered ecosystem functioning. Admixture of tree species with nutrient rich litter has been proposed to restore acidified forest soils and improve forest vitality, productivity and resilience. However, it is common belief that litter effects are insufficiently functional for
restoration of poorly buffered sandy soils. Therefore we examined the effect of leaf litter on the forest floor, soil chemistry and soil biota in temperate forest stands along a range of sandy soil types in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany