N, C and Ca content of leaves sampled from the exploratory sites during the sampling campaigns conducted within the FunDivEUROPE project. Foliar N content was measured in order to be able to calculate the N resorption efficiency characterising the target species within each region of the Exploratory platform of FunDivEUROPE. This will provide an indication of the N ecophysiology of these species, which combined with other parameters (such as litter decomposition and N turnover rates) will provide a picture on the N balance of the studied areas. Foliar N (and C) content was determined with an Elemental Analyser on total organic matter of leaf samples which were dried and ground into a fine powder.

For all analyses twigs with leaves and needles from the south exposed sun crown were collected. For deciduous species, sampling was done on current year leaves or needles, whereas for evergreen species sampling of both the current year needles or leaves and the second year needles or leaves was conducted. The number of sampled trees per species and per plot varied according to the number of species in mixture.

Data from Spain, Poland and Romania is also included in another dataset: Foliar carbon isotope composition and carbon and nitrogen content (Spain, Poland and Romania)