Elevation-Dependent Fluctuations of the Soil Properties in a Subtropical Forest of Central China

Understanding the contents and stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) is vital to evaluate function processes a forest ecosystem. Overall, 18 sites in Shennongjia Forest from an altitude 800 3000 m were selected collect litterfall, humus, soil (0–20 20–40 cm) samples May, August, December. The spatio-temporal distribution C, N, P their quantified, underlying driving factors analyzed. Results revealed total organic (TOC) (TN) decreased topsoil deeper soil, while (TP) changed slightly with depth. Controlled by various sources decomposition degrees, ratios C:P, C:N, N:P litterfall further increased topsoil, again soil. Considering average values all sites, only TN humus dissolved (DOC) C:N exhibited significant seasonal variation. With increasing altitude, TOC, TN, TP significantly particularly but fluctuated humus. This positive relationship was remarkable for TOC compared TP. Pearson’s correlation redundancy analysis indicated more noticeable influence on than those Moisture content, vegetation pattern, bulk density, Mn (tMn), Fe (tFe), clay content observably influenced thus affected its stoichiometry. investigation provided comparable dataset patterns stoichiometry, which are helpful optimize management ecosystems.