Carbon and nutrient solubility in live and dead <i>Betula pubescens</i> leaves across a boreal retrogressive chronosequence

Leaching – the release of elements from organic matter through dissolution in water – plays an important role in biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem processes. However, our limited understanding of the patterns and underlying drivers of element solubility in leaves hinders accurate predictions of leaching over space and time in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we quantify the solubility of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from leaves of Betula pubescens – a widespread boreal tree species – across a post‐fire retrogressive chronosequence. We then relate solubility to variation in leaf‐level traits and ecosystem properties (e.g. soil chemistry, tree density and productivity) across the chronosequence to quantify micro‐ and macro‐scale determinants of leaching. We find that P is much more soluble than C and N and is released in solution mainly in readily accessible mineral form. Solubility patterns are strongly related to foliar chemical and structural traits, particularly for green leaves. Metrics related to ecosystem properties exert a stronger influence over solubility from senesced leaf litter. Overall, our results indicate that leaching could constitute an important flux of nutrients to the soil, particularly for P. The rate and spatio‐temporal pattern of this leaching flux may be predicted from foliar traits and ecosystem properties. Further application of the method should allow for rapid integration of leaching‐related foliar traits into broader plant trait frameworks and models of ecosystem biogeochemical cycling.