Abstract: Tree ring width chronologies were established by core samples of Larix chinensis collected from the Herb Temple in southern slope and the Shangban Temple in northern slope of Taibai Mountain, respectively. Based on the Vaganov-Shashkin model, this paper discussed the responses of Qinling Mountains L. chinensis’ radial growth to various climatic factors. The research found that the temperatures of growing season (from April to August), the precipitation in initial stage of growth and in July to August were the main climatic factors limiting the growth of L. chinensis. The higher temperature was favorable for the growth of trees, but precipitation in the early stage of growth inhibited it. L. chinensis from the southern and northern slope of Qinling Mountains showed different responses to precipitation in July to August, in which abundant precipitation promoted the growth of L. chinensis in the northern slope, while inhibiting the growth in the southern slope. Even in the same slope, sampling sites with different altitudes brought discrepant responses of trees’ radial growth to climatic factors. The L. chinensis at higher altitude needed lower growth temperature than that at lower altitude, but the former demanded greater soil moisture than the latter. The start day of growth had a great influence on the radial growth of L. chinensis, however, the end day of growth only affected that on the southern slope.

Key words: Vaganov-Shashkin model, climate factors, tree-ring, Larix chinensis