Root distribution characteristics have special ecological meaning as they reflect the utilization of trees to the environments.Soil drilling method is applied for the root distribution characterist ics of Vitex negundo var.heterophylla and Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. in two slope gradients( 12。and 28。) and two slope aspects(south and north).Results show that the d ≤1 mm root biomass of Vitex negundo var. heterop hyl la is more than Lespedeza bicolor Turcz . . The d≤1 mm root biomass of the two shrubs in south slope is more than that in north slope. The d≤1mm root biomass of Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. is more than Vitex negundo var. heterophylla in three site conditions

including two slope gradients in south slope and 12。 slope in north slope. The d> 1mm root biomass of Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. is more than Vitex negundo var. heterophylla at 0.2 and 0.4 m from trunk in south and north slope

while the d ≤1 mm root biomass is on the contrary. It is showed that ef fective root( d≤1mm) of Vitex negundo var.heterop hy lla is st ronger than Lesp edez a bicolor Turcz . in horizontal distribution. Root s of the tw o shrubs are distributed mostly in 0-60 cm soil layer. By the d> 1 mm root density

the order of shrubs in the two slope aspects is Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. (south slope) > Vitex negundovar. heterop hylla( south slope) > Vitex negundo var. heterophylla(north slope) > Lespedeza bicolor Turcz . ( north slope) . By the d≤1 mm root density

the order of shrubs in the two slope aspect s is Vi tex negundo var. heterophylla( south slope) > Vitex negundo var. <>iheterophylla( north slope) > Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. ( south slope) > Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. ( north slope) .