Abstract: This study focused on the ecological effects of different selective cutting intensities in Chinese fir plantation.Four kinds of treatments were set up with selective cutting intensities,including low selective cutting intensity of 12.9%,medium selective cutting intensity of 23.5%,high selective cutting intensity of 46.1%,over-high selective cutting intensity of 64.6% and control without selective cutting.Effects of different selective cutting intensities on the vegetation,soil,and litter were investigated and analyzed five years later.Compared with the control,the results indicated that the mean height,the mean DBH,volume and basal area increased and then decreased with increasing of selective cutting intensity.The species diversity of shrub and herb layers under forest communities increased.The soil density,soil water content,soil porosity condition and soil nutrient status from 0~20 cm soil layers were improved in some degree.Total nutrient content of litter in plantation land with high selective cutting intensity reached the maximum.According to comprehensive comparison,the improvement of comprehensive effect on forest ecological environment was preferable with high selective cutting intensity.So it was more appropriate to be used for the scientific operation and management of Chinese fir plantation in mountainous areas in South China.

Key words: selective cutting intensity, species diversity, physical and chemical character of soil