Abstract: Grassland,shrubland and forest are plant communities in different phase of succession in southern subtropical zone of South China. Their phytomass, net primary productivity,and nutrients were studied. The results showed that the development of phytomass through positive succession provided a machanism for nutrient uptake and established compartments for nutrient storage in the phytomass. Primary production and its nutrients were also increased through positive succession from grassland to forest. In addition,forest sustained more nutrient supply from litter than the grassland and shrubland and had relatively greater phytomass accumulation ratio and ability to conserve nutrients.

Key words: sand-fixing plant, configuration mode, plant community characteristics, water relation, gas exchange.