Abstract: Studies of spatial variability of soil chemical properties are not only valuable for understanding soil formation, structure, and function, but also for understanding plant soil relationships. We analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of eight main soil chemical properties in a 4 hm² secondary forest plot in the montane region of eastern Liaoning Province. The results showed that the soil was slightly acidic; the variation of pH was weak, while the variations of organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) were moderate. Spherical model fitted best for soil pH, and exponential model fitted best for the other soil chemical properties. Soil AK, pH, and OM showed moderate spatial autocorrelation, while the other chemical properties showed strong spatial autocorrelation. Soil pH showed a relatively uniform distribution pattern, while the distribution patterns of the other chemical properties were similar, being high in east but low in west of the plot. Soil temperature and spatial distributions of tree seedlings may be the main factors driving the spatial distribution of soil chemical properties in this area.

Key words: degraded woodland, growth trait, contour reverse-slope terrace, hillslope