Forest litter decomposition plays an important role in nutrient and carbon cycling in forest ecosystems. In the Osankarica forest management unit in the Pohorje, we used a reciprocal field experiment to compare the decomposition of beech and spruce litter in beech and spruce stands and to evaluate the home-field advantage (HFA). Eighty polyester mesh bags with a mesh size of 45 µm were prepared, 40 containing beech and 40 containing spruce litter. Each bag contained an amount of air-dried litter equivalent to 10.00 g dry mass and was placed directly above the Oh horizon or, where it was not clearly developed, above the A horizon on 6 November 2025. Sampling was conducted after 39 days, at the beginning of winter, after 180 days, two to three weeks after snowmelt, and after 242 days, approximately three months after snowmelt, at the peak of the growing season. Mean mass loss was 5.0 ± 3.2%, 12.6 ± 2.4%, and 18.0 ± 3.0%, respectively. Spruce litter lost more mass than beech litter at all sampling dates, and mass loss of both litter types was greater in the spruce stand. Mean daily mass loss was lowest during winter and increased again following spring soil warming. A general HFA was not supported, although a home-field advantage was indicated for spruce litter. The results indicate that differences in early-stage decomposition were associated with both litter type and local stand environment.
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