Eight forest sites representative of the white spruce commercial zone in Québec, Canada, were selected for this study (Table 1, Fig. 1). They cover latitudinal and longitudinal transects of 4.6° and 14°, respectively. Plantations were established in the spring of 2013 for the localities of Watford, Asselin and Deville, in the spring of 2014 for the localities of Wendover, Picard and Lac Bergeron, and in the spring of 2015 for the localities of Dorion and Rousseau. The Watford and Wendover sites were formerly occupied by black spruce (Picea mariana) plantations that were harvested in 2012. All other sites, covered by natural forest stands, were also harvested in 2012. Physico-chemical soil properties of plantation sites assessed during the second growing season after plantation are provided in Supplementary Data Table S1.