Abstract: To make level terraces for planting trees in mountainous areas in northern China, an explosive technique was developed for intansive site preparation. It was found that the phisical and chemical properties of soil could be very much improved through explosion and the sheet erosion was also obviously reduced. Another effect of explosion on site was that more suitable environment was created for the development of tree root systems. This technique was particularly effective measure for establishing economic forest plantations on rocky sites. It was also found, however,that the effects varied with explosion depth and explosive amount.

Key words: Explosion technique, Site preparation, Economic benefit, Ecological benefit