Table 2 Mean characteristics and C stock (±standard error) of the forest floor layers (Ol and Of + Oh) and top 10 cm of mineral soil (MS) in the experimental plots

 Thickness (cm)

1.00 ± 0.04b

1.25 ± 0.06a

1.23 ± 0.06a

 Amount (Mg ha⁻¹)

11.28 ± 0.49c

16.47 ± 0.80a

12.97 ± 0.71b

 [C] (%)

46.60 ± 0.63a

48.38 ± 0.66a

43.55 ± 0.71b

 [N] (%)

1.76 ± 0.08a

1.72 ± 0.05a

1.73 ± 0.06a

 C/N

28.11 ± 1.15a

28.40 ± 1.10a

25.06 ± 1.12b

 Bulk density (g cm⁻³)

0.130 ± 0.008ab

0.134 ± 0.005a

0.115 ± 0.006b

 C stock (Mg ha⁻¹)

5.45 ± 0.24b

7.58 ± 0.37a

5.97 ± 0.32b

 Thickness (cm)

0.96 ± 0.05c

3.50 ± 0.11a

2.29 ± 0.09b

 Amount (Mg ha⁻¹)

18.65 ± 0.70c

52.80 ± 1.58a

39.38 ± 1.82b

 [C] (%)

32.98 ± 2.30b

35.48 ± 1.92a

31.55 ± 2.61b

 [N] (%)

1.66 ± 0.11a

1.42 ± 0.06b

1.52 ± 0.18ab

 C:N

22.29 ± 1.51ab

23.65 ± 0.53a

20.83 ± 1.54b

 Bulk density (g cm⁻³)

0.287 ± 0.018b

0.255 ± 0.007b

0.385 ± 0.016a

 Root density (g cm⁻³)

0.078 ± 0.001b

0.093 ± 0.001a

0.083 ± 0.002ab

 C stock (Mg ha⁻¹)

6.79 ± 0.35c

26.25 ± 0.78a

19.58 ± 0.90b

 [C] (%)

2.79 ± 0.06b

2.61 ± 0.07b

3.73 ± 0.12a

 [N] (%)

0.13 ± 0.01b

0.12 ± 0.01b

0.21 ± 0.01a

 C:N

21.94 ± 0.39a

21.73 ± 0.30a

18.14 ± 0.29b

 Bulk density (g cm⁻³)

1.097 ± 0.016a

1.098 ± 0.015a

0.994 ± 0.015b

 Root density (g cm⁻³)

0.072 ± 0.001a

0.072 ± 0.001a

0.061 ± 0.001b

 C stock (Mg ha⁻¹)

41.73 ± 0.81b

41.93 ± 0.98b

49.37 ± 1.48a