Forest harvesting and organic matter management practices may affect the cycling of nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N), through the removal of different organic matter components (e.g. branches, foliage, coarse woody debris) from a site, and the associated changes in carbon-source quantity and quality. This study examined the influence of different silvicultural treatments on the soil N fluxes of two intensively managed Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stands of contrasting site productivities in western Washington. The specific focus of this investigation was to determine the effects of organic matter retention and the control of competing vegetation on soil solution N concentrations, leaching rates (to a depth of 1.0 m) during stand establishment. Additional comparisons were made between the harvested treatments and adjacent non-harvested portions of the same forest stands. Differences in inherent site productivity and soil N pool size resulted in differences in the response of N leaching fluxes to similar silvicutlural treatments between the two sites. However, increased organic matter retention did increase the total N flux in both cases. Further, it appears that the control of competing vegetation may have a stronger influence on N cycling dynamics and subsequent stand productivity.