The study is focused on element fluxes, pools, wet and dry deposition, internal cycling in trees, soil exchange processes, chemical weathering, nutritional status of trees and toxic metals speciation assessments, modeling predictions of hydrological, hydrochemical, hydrobiological and soil chemical status. The catchments studied are situated 7 km apart, within a large Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest on a plateau in the Protected Landscape Area Slavkov Forest, near Mariánské Lázně. The catchments have similar altitude, area, topography, air temperature, atmospheric deposition fluxes, and tree cover, but contrasting bedrocks and soils. The granite Lysina catchment represents sites with acid-vulnerable base-poor rock, extremely poor in magnesium (Mg). In constrast, the serpentine Pluhův Bor catchment represents sites with highly acid-resistant rock, extremely rich in Mg. At Lysina, Mg in spruce foliage is deficient and consequent acidification symptoms of needle-yellowing are visible. Annual increment of spruce bole biomass at Pluhuv Bor is low and attributed to potassium and phosphorus deficiency and nickel (Ni) toxicity due to the substrate. Streamwater at Pluhův Bor exhibited high pH, alkalinity, and very high concentrations of Mg, Ni and chromium. Very low pH, negative alkalinity and elevated concentrations of toxic forms of aluminum mobilized from soils by acidification were found in the stream draining Lysina. Contrasting streamwater compositions in the studied catchments were generated mainly by large differences in chemical weathering (Krám et al. 2012, Appl.Geoch., 27: 1854).

The spruce and beech stands under study are located in the Czech Republic in the Ore Mountains near the German border, close to the village of Načetín (50_35026” N, 13_15014” E). Both of the stands lie close to each other (ca. 700 m), so they are exposed to the same geological and climatic conditions. The average annual temperature is 7.1 _C and average annual precipitation is 1110 mm (2005–2017). Paragneiss underlies both stands, which are sloped to the north-west. The dominant soil type is dystric cambisol. The spruce stand lies at an elevation of 784ma.s.l. and it is covered by 80 years old monoculture of Norway spruce (Picea abies). The beech stand is situated at an elevation of 823 m a.s.l. and it is composed predominantly of European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) that are approximately 140 years old.