The density of the studied stands varied from 3060 to 36 200 trees per ha and their above-ground biomass varied from 6.0 to 22.9 t DM ha−1. The largest share in the above-ground biomass of the birches (59–80%) was from the stems. The mean stem mass of the birches ranged from 0.29 to 1.79 kg, and the mean total above-ground biomass ranged from 0.36 to 3.03 kg. The leaf area index for the studied stands varied from 1.21 to 4.64 m2 m−2, being the highest for the stand of medium density. Mean single leaf area varied from 9.4±0.2 to 15.4±0.3 cm2, leaf weight per area varied from 61.1±0.4 to 77.5±0.5 g m2, and specific leaf area varied from 13.2±0.1 to 16.8±0.1 m2 kg−1. However, no significant differences were found between stand density and the foliar characteristics. There was a strong positive correlation between soil nitrogen concentration and leaf nitrogen concentration (R=0.92); regarding phosphorus concentration, the corresponding correlation was weak (R=0.52) and regarding potassium concentration, no significant correlation was found. The amount of nitrogen accumulated in the above-ground part of the silver birch stands varied between 42.4 and 145.8 kg ha−1, the amount of phosphorus, between 5.9 and 27.9 kg ha−1, and the amount of potassium, between 7.2 and 78.6 kg ha−1. The N:P:K ratios for the foliage were comparable. It is evident that the proportion of nitrogen and phosphorus are close to optimum, while the N:K ratio was lower than optimum value in all cases.