A laboratory experiment designed to test the effect of additions of base cations and liming treatments on nutrient availability was carried out using the FH (Oe/Oa) horizon of an Orthic Ferro‐Humic Podzol (Humic Haplorthod) from a sugar maple (Acer saccharumMarsh) stand. Treatment with K2SO4caused a decrease in pH of the leachates from samples incubated for five weeks while liming caused an increase in pH. Application of the base cation‐lime materials caused an increase in Ca, Mg, and K, as would be expected, however these materials also increased NH4and NO3concentrations suggesting that microbial activity and N dynamics were also affected.