Abstract:Early successional communities in abandoned agricultural fields are often dominated by herbaceous species. To study the effects of dominant herbaceous species on woody seedlings and microenvironmental factors, and to contrast these effects between invasive species and native species, we conducted a species\|removal experiment in an early successional community dominated by invasive species (Chromolaena odorata) and native species (Digitaria ciliaris) in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. After the removal treatment, we investigated the recruitment, growth and mortality of woody seedlings. We also measured microenvironmental factors in the community. We found that the seedling height increment was substantially greater in removal plots than in control plots, the mortality of woody seedlings decreased, and the number of new seedlings increased after removal treatments. The effect of removing dominant species on height increment and seedling mortality was larger on 0-50 cm seedlings than on seedlings taller than 50 cm. The removal treatments increased the diffuse non\|interceptance value (DIFN) significantly but had little effects on soil moisture or soil nutrient status. Both the invasive species and the native species formed dense canopies and inhibited the growth of woody seedlings by competing for light, with no significant difference between these two species. The seedlings of pioneer tree species were found in the study area but they were subjected to severe inhibition by dominant herbaceous species; both the invasive and the native weed species. Therefore, attention should be paid to both invasive species and native weeds in managing dominant herbaceous species in early successional communities.