Abstract:Fagus hayatae is an economic, class Ⅱ protected endemic species of China. Micangshan Nature Reserve is the largest distribution area of F. hayatae found presently in inland of China. To test whether soil chemical properties can be as a predictor of F. hayatae population growth, we investigated 18 samples (20 m× 30 m per sample) of F. hayatae population and their soil properties though field investigation, ordinary kriging interpolation and correlation analysis in Micangshan Nature Reserve, Sichuan. (1) The distributions of F. hayatae were scattered on 1 550 ~ 1 900 m altitude and a certain slope in the mountain near the upper of stream, but without distribution in lower river valley. (2) Total individual number and population density of F. hayatae were negatively correlative with the contents of soil organic matter, total N and cation exchange capacity, while its average height and diameter at breast height and basal coverage of F. hayatae were positively correlative with soil available Cu content. (3) The suitable soil properties of pH, organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable K and Na, cation exchange capacity, available Cu and Mg for the F. hayatae were 4.4-5.1, 53.17-102.00 g·kg-1, 1.68-2.50 g·kg-1, 2.95-4.81 mg·kg-1, 0.19-0.37 cmol (+)·kg-1, 0.11-0.30 cmol (+)·kg-1, 24.75-34.79 cmol (+)·kg-1, 0.61-1.08 mg·kg-1 and 31.00-79.50 mg·kg-1, respectively. These results indicated that the soil chemical properties could be a predictor of growth for F. hayatae population.