Soil C:N:P stoichiometry in tropical forests on Hainan Island of China: Spatial and vertical variations

Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are three important elements. The study of stoichiometric relationships soil C, N, P in tropical forests on Hainan Island, China could improve our understanding nutrient cycling provide valuable information for forest management. samples were collected at five different depths from 0 to 100 cm sites among four types total concentrations measured. C N C:P N:P ratios declined the surface layer deeper layers C:N ratio had relatively small variations depths, due that mostly controlled by biological processes such as photosynthesis N2-fixation, while was more influenced bedrock. Large spatial found their ratios. significantly longitude vegetation cover, concentration latitude. This produced a comprehensive data set stoichiometry, variation patterns controls forests. generated here help ecosystem models better element productivity, plant-environment relationships.