Table 10 Results of ANCOVA models on the effect of transect and beech-oak index on 13 variables related to soil chemical properties, and biomass and soil carbon pools in the three transects. The models had the form: response variable ~ transect + beech-oak index. Significant effects are printed in bold

Above ground biomass carbon (AGC) pool [Mg C ha⁻¹]

19.96

 < 0.001

22.54

 < 0.001

Soil organic carbon (SOC) pool [Mg C ha⁻¹]

4.72

0.015

6.48

0.015

Organic layer carbon (OLC) pool [Mg C ha⁻¹]

12.37

 < 0.001

2.15

0.151

Soil total nitrogen (STN) pool [Mg N ha⁻¹]

5.74

0.007

2.08

0.158

Organic layer nitrogen (OLN) pool [kg N ha⁻¹]

17.92

 < 0.001

2.59

0.116

Mineral soil P_av pool [kg P_av ha⁻¹]

4.66

0.016

0.29

0.595

Organic layer P pool [kg P ha⁻¹]

21.02

 < 0.001

1.74

0.196

Mineral soil Ca⁺²_ex pool [kmol_c Ca⁺² ha⁻¹]

2.35

0.109

3.06

0.088

Organic layer Ca pool [kg Ca ha⁻¹]

21.44

 < 0.001

9.91

0.003

Base saturation (BS) [%]

0.01

0.986

1.86

0.181

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) [mol_c kg⁻¹]

10.39

 < 0.001

2.49

0.123

pH (H₂O)

0.03

0.986

1.16

0.289