The knowledge of tree species dependent turnover of soil organic matter (SOM) is limited, yet required to understand the carbon sequestration function of forest soil. We combined investigations of 13 C and 15 N and its relationship to elemental stoichiometry along soil depth gradients in 35-year old monocultural stands of Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ), black pine ( Pinus nigra ), European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) and red oak ( Quercus rubra ) growing on a uniform post-mining soil. We investigated the natural abundance of 13 C and 15 N and the carbon:nitrogen (C:N) and oxygen:carbon (O:C) stoichiometry of litterfall and fine roots as well as SOM in the forest floor and mineral soil. Tree species had a significant effect on SOM δ 13 C and δ 15 N reflecting significantly different signatures of litterfall and root inputs. Throughout the soil profile, δ 13 C and δ 15 N were significantly related to the C:N and O:C ratio which indicates that isotope enrichment with soil depth is linked to the turnover of organic matter (OM). Significantly higher turnover of OM in soils under deciduous tree species depended to 46% on the quality of litterfall and root inputs (N content, C:N, O:C ratio), and the initial isotopic signatures of litterfall. Hence, SOM composition and turnover also depends on additional—presumably microbial driven—factors. The enrichment of 15 N with soil depth was generally linked to 13 C. In soils under pine, however, with limited N and C availability, the enrichment of 15 N was decoupled from 13 C. This suggests that transformation pathways depend on litter quality of tree species.