Abstract
(1) Soil-plant relationships were studied in sixty-four radial transects around beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees, each extending 250 cm from the stem. (2) The stemflow appeared to have decreased pH and base saturation in the topsoil of mull soils, being most pronounced within 1-5 m of the stem. The decreased pH in the soil extended to the B-horizon. (3) Exchangeable Ca and Mg were lower near the stem as was Mn in the most acid soils. Exchangeable K was higher close to the stem. (4) The cover of fourteen common field-layer species was closely correlated to soil pH and also to base saturation, exchangeable Ca and organic matter content. Exchangeable Mg, K, Mn and Al were less correlated to the variability in cover. (5) The distribution of plant species in relation to soil pH among the stemflow transects was similar to that found in 0-05 ha plots of beechwood.
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