The space list method was used to replace the time list in selecting four plots in their different stages of vegetation succession as grass stage

grass-shrub stage

shrub stage and forest stage in the open karst region of Guangxi

reports were based on the responses of the soils physical

chemical and biological properties to the four vegetation succession.This study indicate that the different vegetation succession led to significant differences in the soils physico-chemical and biological properties.The soil quality increased with progressive succession

the indices of soil quality for grass stage

grass-shrub stage

shrub stage and forest stage were 0.09

0.16

0.61 and 0.89

respectively

vegetation succession was an effective approach to improving soil quality.The factors that led to the poor soil quality of the grass and grass-shrub plantations were lower plant productivity

lower accumulation soil nutrients

lower soil nutrient especially organic matter

lower soil microbes and lower soil enzyme.Soil microbial amount combined with enzyme was the better indicator for reflecting soil biological activity and soil quality.