Abstract: Light is one of the key factors affecting natural regeneration of forest (seed germination and seedling growth traits). However, the effects of light quality on early regeneration of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) remain unclear. We investigated the effects of light quality on seed germination and seedling growth of Chinese fir with five treatments of different light qualities in laboratory: 8 h white light (W), 8 h red light (R), 6 h red light 2 h far red light (R-FR), 4 h red light 2 h far red light2 h red light (R-FR-R), and dark (D, as control). The results showed that light quality significantly affected seed germination of Chinese fir. D and R-FR-R treatments promoted, while R treatment inhabited seed germination of Chinese fir. Root length, cotyledon length, total biomass and leaf biomass ratio were promoted, and stem growth was inhibited under R and R-FR-R treatments. The stem growth was promoted under far red light treatment. Our results demonstrated that seeds of Chinese fir were insensitive to light. The germination percentage reached the maximum under treatment D. Chinese fir seed could adapt to heterogeneous light conditions.

Key words: loess, total nitrogen, alkali hydrolysable nitrogen, hyperspectrum, vegetation recovering.