Three white birch stands of differing site quality (good, intermediate, rich) in central Newfoundland were monitored using porous cup lysimeters to study changes in nutrient concentrations (NH4-N, NO3-N, PO4-P, K, Ca, Mg, pH) in the soil solution following stem only and whole tree harvesting. Ammonium concentrations on the good and intermediate sites were not greatly affected by cutting, but stem only (STO) harvesting on the rich site led to increased concentrations that persisted for 3 y. Nitrate concentrations increased more on the intermediate than on the good site, but increases were smallest on the richest site. This was attributed to a combination of uptake by more vigorous advance regeneration (mainly alders) on the rich site, as well as wetter soil conditions that limited nitrification. Phosphorous concentrations were not greatly affected by harvesting. Potassium concentrations increased immediately after harvesting as K leached from slash on the STO treatments, plant remains and the forest floor, and decreased as these sources were depleted. Vegetation uptake and leaching associated with movement of NO3-N were also controlling mechanisms on some sites. Calcium and Mg concentrations were correlated, and initially increased with harvesting, but on the richest two sites decreased below control stand levels after whole tree harvesting (WTH) at the end of 3 y. Movement of Ca and Mg was associated with NO3-N on sites where there was a significant increase in NO3-N concentrations following harvesting. Acidity decreased on the good site, increased after STO, but decreased after WTH on the intermediate site, and increased after both intensities of harvesting on the rich site. Nutrient concentrations in the soil solution were generally higher when slash was retained in STO treatments rather than removed in WTH treatments. This was attributed to a combination of increased mineralisation beneath the slash, increased leaching from the slash, and decreased plant uptake. In general, the soil solution data suggest that harvesting effects last for no more than 3 y for most nutrients on these birch sites in Newfoundland, and that whole tree harvesting generally had less impact on nutrient concentrations than stem only harvesting. However, this does not necessarily mean that net losses from sites were less with WTH, as this does not take into account nutrient fluxes or nutrient removals in slash.