Greenhouse gas production from forest soils was measured during the 1997 vegetation period using closed chambers. Klausenleopoldsdorf 1 and Schottenwald differed significantly in NO3- and NH4+ concentrations but nor in climatic conditions and soil type, while Klausenleopoldsdorf 2 was characterized by high soil water content. N2O emission rates were highest at Schottenwald (70.0 mu g N2O-N m(-2) h(-1)), which was mainly due to higher NO3- availability. The lower N2O emissions at Klausenleopoldsdorf 2 (15.1 mu g N2O-N m(-2) h(-1)) indicated that denitrification proceeded entirely to N-2, conditioned by high soil water content. Klausenleopoldsdorf 1 and Schottenwald showed similar CO2 emissions and functioned as a sink for methane. At Klausenleopoldsdorf 2 methane was produced (30.7 mu g CH4 m(-2) h(-1)) and CO2 emissions were low, which can be attributed to anaerobic soil conditions.