[Objective] We aim to reveal soil nutrient limiting factors of vegetation restoration in Pinus massoniana forests, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the restoration of the degraded P. massoniana forests.[Methods] The experimental analysis of chemical properties was conducted in four completely different forest vegetation plots at 0-5, 5-20 and 20-40 cm depths of soil layers in the granite weathered red soil region of Hetian Town, Changting County, Fujian Province.[Results] (1) The organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, total potassium, available potassium were lower in the degraded P. massoniana forest soil. The ability of soil keeping fertilizer was poor, and fertility was lost easily with soil erosion. (2) In all plots, the variation of organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, potassium showed as:poor recovery < moderate recovery < relative good recovery < good recovery. (3) Organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, available potassium showed significant positive correlations(p<0.01), and the load on the first principal component were 0.921,0.931,0.974,0.906 and 0.874, respectively. (4) The variation of total K in four restored plots was not significant in surface soil, and there was not obvious rule in the other soil layer. The pH value of good restored plot was minimum, and vegetation under P. massoniana could grow well.[Conclusion] Organic, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, available potassium are the main limiting factors in vegetation restoration, and the total potassium, pH value are not the main limiting factors in vegetation restoration.