Abstract: General survey and typical sample plot investigation were used in this study to investigate the snow induced damage degree of Larix kaempferi plantation and the related influence factors in a stateowned forest farm in Jianshi county. This paper analyzed the correlations between the damage degree with the site index, stand structure and individual growth characteristics, as well as influence level of the factors to provide reference in enhancing the ability to defend for snow induced damage. The results showed that the elevation had extremely significant influence to damage degree. There was a significant difference in damage degree between area above 1 800 meter and area under 1 800 meter, and the damage degree in the high elevation area was twice of that in low elevation area. There was also a significant difference or extremely significant difference in the damage degree in different slope and slope type. Eastern slope was most serious and the damage degree on the different slope types was half shady slope >sunny slope>shady slope. The ability in defending snow induced damage enhanced with the increasing stand age and the damage degree was obviously lighter in stands older than 25 years. The damage degree of stands with density over 2000 trees•hm-2 was extremely serious and was about three times serious of that of stands with density less than 1 000 trees•hm-2. There was a significant difference in their biological characters between uprooting individual and undamaged individual. The individuals which had lesser ratio of height to diameter, more main lateral root quantity, thicker main lateral root and more root biomass had obviously stronger ability of defending snow storm. The results suggest that the measures of choosing right trees to adapt the local sites, appropriately controlling stand density and promoting rooting would effectively enhance the ability of defending snow induced damage.

Key words: Larix kaempferi, plantation, snow induced damage, correlative factors