Abstract: The stoichiometric properties of plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and their relationships with soil were studied in six dominant plant communities in three forest types, i.e., plantation forest, secondary forest and primary forest in depressions between karst hills, southwest China. The C, N and P contents of both plant and soil had significant differences among the different forest types. Soil C and N contents were the highest in the secondary forest and the lowest in the plantation forest. Soil P content was the highest in the plantation forest and the lowest in the primary forest. Plant C and P contents were in the order of plantation forest > primary forest >secondary forest, and plant N content was the highest in the plantation forest and the lowest in the primary forest. Soil N:P,C:P and plant C:P ratios were significantly higher in the primary forest than in the other two forest types. There were no significant difference for the soil C:N ratio among the three forest types. Plant N:P ratio was the highest in the secondary forest and the lowest in the plantation forest. Plant C:N ratio was in the order of primary forest > plantation forest > secondary forest. There were significantly positive linear correlations between N and P contents, C:N and C:P ratios, C:P and N:P ratios of arbor leaves in the different forest types, and significant negative linear correlations between plant C:N and N:P ratios, and between soil C:N and N:P ratios. There were no significant correlations between plant and soil C, N, P contents and C:P ratio, suggesting that the supply of C, N and P from soil had little influence on plant C, N and P contents.