Chestnut plantations are worldwide distributed and they are often subjected to intensive management practices such as the removal of the organic residues from the soil surface. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of such practices on soil properties at different depths and on nutrient contents in chestnut leaves. To reach our goal, 6 pits down to 30 cm soil depth were dug in European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) stands where the organic residues such as burrs, leaves and pruned materials are yearly removed (REM), and 9 pits in stands where the organic residues are chopped and left on soil surface (CONS). Both practices began about 30 years ago. The nutrient contents in leaves were assessed on chestnut trees close to each pit. Our findings showed a more intense soil development in CONS than in REM. At soil surface, CONS had thicker mineral horizon than in REM probably due to the protection acted by the organic residues against erosion. In subsoil, organic residues conservation promoted the organic C (soil organic C, water–extractable organic C, fulvic–like C and soil organic C stock) accumulation which further promoted horizon development. Since the role of soil organic matter (SOM) as source of nutrients, the subsoil of CONS study sites had a greater stock of Ca, P and S and a higher exchangeable Ca content than REM. Furthermore, the higher SOM and nutrient contents in CONS subsoil compared to REM promoted the microbial respiration. The organic residues conservation effects on the surface soil horizon properties were, instead, negligible. Despite the generally better soil conditions in CONS than in REM, no differences were observed for the leaf nutrient contents likely due to the chestnut trees adaptability also to the scarcely fertile soils. Overall, our findings highlighted the importance of organic residues conservation for the improvement in deeper soil horizons of the chemical and biological fertility in chestnut plantations. Furthermore, this research pointed out to pay more attention on subsoil since it is a good indicator of the changes caused by external factors.

栗子人工林分布在世界各地，通常要进行密集的管理，例如从土壤表面清除有机残留物。本研究旨在调查这种做法对不同深度土壤特性和栗叶营养成分的影响。为了达到我们的目标，在欧洲板栗（Castanea sativa）中挖出了6个深度小于30 cm的坑Mill。）每年清除掉毛刺，树叶和修剪过的材料等有机残留物（REM）的位置，在将这些有机残留物切碎并留在土壤表面（CONS）的位置上放置9个坑。两种做法都始于30年前。在靠近每个坑的栗树上评估叶片中的营养成分。我们的研究结果表明，CONS中的土壤发育比REM中的更为强烈。在土壤表面，CONS的矿物层位比REM的层厚，这可能是由于有机残留物具有抗侵蚀作用。在地下土壤中，有机物残留的保护促进了有机碳（土壤有机碳，水可萃取有机碳，黄腐菌样碳和土壤有机碳储量）的积累，从而进一步促进了地平线的发展。由于土壤有机质（SOM）作为养分的来源，与REM相比，CONS研究场地的土壤中的Ca，P和S含量更高，可交换的Ca含量更高。此外，与REM相比，CONS土壤中较高的SOM和养分含量促进了微生物的呼吸作用。相反，有机残留物对地表土壤层位特性的影响可以忽略不计。尽管CONS的土壤条件总体上比REM好，但未观察到叶养分含量的差异，这可能是由于栗树对稀有土壤的适应性所致。总体而言，我们的发现强调了保护有机残留物对于改善栗子人工林化学和生物肥力的更深土壤视野的重要性。此外，