Abstract: Dendroclimatology method was used to study the relationship between ring index of Pinus massoniana and three climate factors in Dinghushan, South China. The ring indices were negatively correlated with the average temperature in June, August and September, and positively correlated with the average temperature of March, whereas no statistically significant correlation was found with monthly precipitation, showing that high summer temperature could limit the radial growth of the species. Meanwhile, tree ring indices showed a strong positive correlation with the relative humidity of April, June, August, September, October and November, and also with the average humidity of the whole year, indicating that atmospheric moisture could not fully satisfy the growth of Pinus massoniana despite of abundant rainfall. The possible impact of climate change on the growth of Pinus massoniana was discussed accordingly.

Key words: Pinus massoniana, Temperature, Precipitation, Relative humidity, Climate change, black loessial soil, organic carbon, feedback relationships., Loess Plateau, total nitrogen