Abstract:This study uses an approach of space sequence instead of temporal sequence, we measured C, N and P contents and C∶N, C∶P, N∶P ratios of the leaves of dominant species and soil in four forests, in Pingtan Island, eastern of Fujian Province, China: shrubgrassland, coniferous forest, coniferous and broadleaved mixed wood and broadleaved forest. The aim was to analyse the summary of changes in C, N and P stoichiometry of plant and soil in different forest successions, and explored the relationship between plant and soil of nutrition in Pingtan Island. The results showed that: (1) because the sources of C, N and P in soil was differential, the soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen content (STN) increased with succession. The soil total phosphorus (STP) content decreased initially, and then increased. Soil C: N ratio gradually increased with succession, Soil C∶P and N∶P ratios increased initially, and then decreased. (2) With progress in succession, plant leaf carbon (LC) content increased initially, and then decreased; Leaf nitrogen (LN) content and phosphorus (LP) content decreased initially, and then increased, which reflected that plants adopted different ecological adaptability in each successional stage. Leaf C∶N and C∶P ratios increased initially, and then decreased; Leaf N∶P ratio gradually increased with succession. (3) The correlation analysis showed that was a significant positive correlation between soil SOC and STN, which means a strong coupling relationship between soil C and N. A significant positive correlation was observed between plant LN and LP which together reflected the photosynthesis of plants. LP content was significantly and positively correlated with STP, and the N∶P ratio of leaves was greater than 16 in each successional stage. These results indicated that the growth of plants was mainly restricted by soil P in Pingtan Island.