Abstract:Early in 2008, a frozen rain and snow weather spreading over most parts of south China caused a big disaster. Icicles were produced on branches and leave of Cunninghamia lanceolata trees by sleets, resulting in that many live trees were damaged by crown breaking. The crown breaking coming from ice-snow damage caused an increase in solar radiation, which promoted litter decomposition by increasing soil temperature and water. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of the ice-snow damage on litter nutrients and nutrients of woody debris as well as soil physical and chemical properties. In comparing with those one year ago, N, P and K contents of litter decreased by 7%, 12% and 21%, respectively, litter amount decreased by 22%. As a result, N, P and K amounts of litter decreased by 27%, 31% and 38%, respectively. In 2009, N and P contents of woody debris increased by 5% and 6%, respectively, whereas K content decreased by 15%. Woody debris amount decreased by 3% due to its slow decomposing, and its N amount increased by 2%, P amount remained constant, whereas K decreased by 18%. Litter accumulated on ground after ice-snow damage, which caused a thick organic matter layer after litter decomposition, so that the soil became porous. Soil bulk density and capillary porosity of soil decreased, total porosity and capillary moisture capacity increased and non-capillary porosity significantly increased in 2009. Accumulations of soil organic matter and nutrients were accelerated during litter and stem debris decomposition. The pH value of soil decreased in 2009, contents of soil organic matter, total N, total P and total K increased by 16%, 11%, 14% and 8%, respectively, and alkalized N and available P increased by 113% and 17%, respectively, whereas available K decreased by 36%.