Dissolved organic matter (DOM) leaching from decomposing detritus accumulated above mineral soils is an important carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) flux that influences biogeochemical processes, C sequestration and the health of individual ecosystems. This study compared the retention and transformation of DOM leached through soils formed under three contrasting vegetation types. In a laboratory study, 10 cm columns of surface soil from either a grass, oak or pine site was leached with DOM derived from either grass, oak or pine litter. In the field , the laboratory study was replicated by burying columns containing soil from the grass, oak and pine at each of the vegetation sites. Leachates were sampled biweekly beginning in January 2005 and analyzed for volume, pH, DON and DOC. We found that each soil retained DOM derived from its native ecosystem to a greater extent, suggesting that the microbial community from each ecosystems is adapted to consume the native DOM. Soils from the pine site retained significantly higher DON than soil from either the grass or oak sites. Soil from the pine site contains the highest levels of iron oxides. The higher iron content likely contributes to higher DON retention. Soils formed under grass lose soil C and N when leached with DOM from pine and oak litter while soils from pine and oak sites did not lose C and N from any source. Both soil minerals and the soil microbial communities play an important role in DOM retention in the subsoil.