Abstract:In order to understand the changes in soil C, N and P in forest succession, the soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and the chemical stoichiometry characteristics were studied in three Dinghushan forests along a succession gradient. The results showed that both the contents of SOC and N decreased along soil depths and increased with succession stages. There were significant differences in contents of soil SOC and N between late succession and early succession (P < 0.05), and also between topsoil (0-20 cm) and other soil layers (P < 0.05). The content of soil P was the highest in middle succession forest, but there were no significant differences among three forests. For the distribution pattern of P along soil profile, the content of soil P increased with soil depth in early succession and decreased in late succession, which had no significant differences among soil layers in middle succession. Soil C:N was not affected by soil depth or succession process, while soil C:P and N:P increased with succession process and decreased with soil depth. It was suggested that the contents of SOC, N, and P with succession process and soil depth depended on the sources of soil C, N, P.