Abstract:The investigation of plant nutrient contents in Dinghushan lower subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest was carried out in August 1996. Sampling was made in Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong, from tree, shrub, liana and herb layers with 5-8 representative species each. It was shown that the nutrient contents in leaves of all plants were N 0.946%-2.535%, P 0.030%-0.127%, K 0.614%-1.833%, Ca 0.442%-1.995% and Mg 0.024%-0.188%. Average contents of nutrient elements in various organs and at different layers in the forest were varied．Average nutrient content of N was highest in leaves，and in descending order in barks，branchcs，root and stems；other elements：P in leaves > branches > roots > barks >stems；K in leaves > branches > barks > roots > stems；Ca in barks > leayes > branches > roots > stems；Mg in leaves > stems > roots > barks > branches．The distribution of elements in most plants was as follows： N > Ca > K > Mg > P in leaves，branches and roots；K > Ca > N > Mg > P in stems；and Ca > N > K > Mg> P in barks. The factors，especially P and Mg，possibly limiting the plant productivity in the area studied are discussed．
