Objective To explore the effect of intercropping with Vulpia myuros on soil and provide reference for the management of Camellia oleifera forest.

Method By using the method of random fixed-point sampling, the changes of soil moisture, nutrients contents and enzyme activity of C. oleifera forest in the 0—20 cm soil layer were analyzed during V. myuros decomposition.

Result The soil moisture, nutrients and enzyme activity of C. oleifera forest in the 020 cm soil layer were significantly influenced by the treatment of intercropping with V. myuros. Intercropping with V. myuros, the soil moisture increased by 39.62% on the average during decomposition from July to October compared with control treatment (CK). The decomposition of V. myuros not only dramatically improved the content of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium of C. oleifera forest in the 0—20 cm soil layer, but also increased hydrolysable nitrogen and available potassium content. The content of available phosphorus was nine times that of the control in late August. In addition, compared with the CK, the soil urease and acid phosphatase and catalase activity changed significantly during the decomposition of V. myuros, while no significant effect on sucrase activity was found.

Conclusion Intercropping with V. myuros can increase the soil fertility to some extents and show a positive effect on soil improvement and sustainable production of C. oleifera forest.