A dataset of forest Soil Trace and Heavy Metal Elements from Dinghushan, Guangdong (2000–2020)

Soil is a fundamental component of forest ecosystems, providing essential water and nutrients for plant growth and functioning as a crucial medium for various physical, chemical, and biological processes. The Dinghushan National Nature Reserve, located in the South Subtropical Zone of China, is characterized by rich ecosystem diversity and represents a typical region highly sensitive to global environmental changes. As such, it has become a focal area for extensive ecological research. The predominant soil types in the region include lateritic red soil, mountain yellow soil, both of which develop on sandstone and shale, as well as mountain shrub meadow soil. In recent years, the study of soil chemical element composition in this region has gained increasing attention; however, significant uncertainties remain, largely due to the limited availability of shared data. This dataset compiles long-term observational data from the Dinghushan Forest Ecosystem National Field Observation and Research Station, spanning from 2000 to 2020. The sampling sites encompass three vegetation types representing different successional stages: Pinus massoniana coniferous forest, mixed Pinus massoniana broad-leaved forest, and monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest. The primary observation indicators include annual measurements of trace elements in surface soils, decadal assessments of trace elements and heavy metal content in soil profiles. All samples were collected from fixed location points and analyzed in the laboratory using standardized experimental protocols. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data, the quality of the data was controlled and evaluated in multiple links such as sample collection, experimental analysis and historical data comparison during the research process. The establishment and public sharing of this dataset will contribute valuable long-term data to enhance regional soil property databases, support monitoring systems for soil quality in subtropical forest ecosystems, strengthen forest ecosystem research networks, refine ecological process models, and inform regional environmental management strategies.