Vegetation zonation across elevational gradients considering lithological influence: A case study from the Qinling Mountains heartland, China

This study focuses on a forest farm located in the hinterland of the Qinling Mountains, China, as the research site. Through the investigation and sampling within quadrat at different elevations in different lithology of the forest farm, the quantity, height, diameter at breast height(DBH) and coverage of arbors and shrubs within quadrat and the bedrock structure development degree, slope body unit were statistically analyzed. Soil and weathered parent rock samples were collected sequentially along soil depth profile within quadrat. After indoor experimental tests, the growth characteristics of vegetation, as well as the variation laws of physical and chemical properties and nutrients of soil along soil depth profile at different elevations in different lithology were analyzed, to explore the correlations of the overlying vegetation and soil long-term regulated by the bedrock along elevation in different lithology of Qinling Mountains.