Abstract: In order to evaluate the ecological role of litterfall in the nutrient cycling in subtropical forests, the artificial young forests of 10 tree species in subtropical region were selected as the research objects to analyze the difference of annual litterfall yield among different tree species, and the characteristics and influencing factors of the nutrient return amount of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. The results showed that the annual litterfall amount, carbon return amount and phosphorus return amount in Mytilaria laosensis were the highest, which were 676.24 g·m^-2, 416.77 g·m^-2, and 0.27 g·m^-2, respectively. The annual litterfall amount, carbon return amount and phosphorus return amount in Fokienia hodginsii were the lowest, which were 105.23 g·m^-2, 53.49 g·m^-2, and 0.03 g·m^-2, respectively. The return amount of nitrogen in litterfall of Castanopsis fissa was the highest (being 6.17 g·m^-2), while Pinus massoniana had the lowest return amount of nitrogen in litterfall (being 0.73 g·m^-2). The return amount of carbon in litterfall of artificial young forests in subtropical region decreased with the content increase of carbon and nitrogen in litterfall. The return amount of nitrogen in litterfall decreased with the content increase of carbon and phosphorus in litterfall, and increased with the content increase of nitrogen in litterfall. The return amount of phosphorus in litterfall decreased with the content increase of carbon in litterfall. The study indicated that the return amount of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in litterfall of artificial young forests in subtropical region was jointly regulated by the contents of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in litterfall.