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Litterfall and macro (Ca, N, P, Mg and K) and microminerals (Fe, Mn and Zn) components of the leaves were compared in two sites for 12 months (September 2008-Agust 2009). Site 1 was located in El Llano de La Soledad, Galeana, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (1863 m) and site 2 in San Jose del Alamito, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico (1895 m). A total of 10 litter traps (1 m(2)) were randomly located at each site to collect litterfall. The annual litterfall at site 2 was higher (407 g.m(-2).year(-1)) than at site 1 (162 g-m(-2)-year(-1)). Leaves (47.7 and 53.2 %: site 1 and site 2, respectively) constituted the highest component, followed by branches (24.6 and 20.3 %), reproductive structures (21.3 and 20.2 %) and others (4.3 and 7.6 %). The deposition of macro and microminerals was higher at site 2 than at site 1. The spatio-temporal differences in litterfall and mineral return might have been related to the extreme temperatures, plant species composition and chemical soil properties.