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Timber exposed in the ground faces most severe conditions in terms of exposure to wetting and fungal decay in the terrestrial environment, therefore wood durability tests are often conducted in test fields preferably ensuring the occurrence of all relevant decay organisms. One can also expect differences in decay within an individual field test site due to localised distribution of certain organisms. Therefore, relevant decay parameters were examined on the newly prepared in-ground test field in Herrenhausen, Hannover: Scots pine sapwood and European beech were exposed to record distribution of decay types, decay intensity and soil parameters. Soft and white rot were found to be dominating. Significant differences of the intrasite variability of decay intensity were observed between wood species and over time. In contrast, differences in decay intensity by different rot types were small. It was concluded that spatial differences in decay intensity were due to localised established fungal flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]