Abstract: 【Objective】To improve soil properties of the coastal area of northern Jiangsu Province, to improve the survival rate during afforestation, and to promote the construction of the coastal shelter-forest system, tests using rice husk charcoal to improve saline-alkali soil were conducted for the first time.【Method】The amount of rice husk charcoal was divided into 6 groups according to the control(0%), 2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 30%, and the tree species, including Populus deltoides × P. euramericana ‘Nanlin895’, Ligustrum compactum, Zelkova serrata, Quercus virginiana, and Populus deltoides × P.nigra, were planted in each group.【Result】The rice husk charcoal could effectively reduce soil salinity content and bulk density, and improve the organic matter content. Soil salinity content and bulk density were reduced 54.7% and 26.1%, respectively, and organic matter content was improved 162.0%. When the ratio of rice husk charcoal was 10%, the soil was effectively improved. The rice husk charcoal had adsorption effects on soil soluble N, available-P, and available-K. The contents of the nutritive elements from the control soils were the highest or second highest. If the rice husk charcoal was added to the soil, the contents of the nutritive elements were lowered. The survival rate of afforestation increased gradually with the increase of rice husk charcoal. When the rice husk charcoal ratio reached 10%, the survival rate was the highest at 91.10%. The order of survival rate and growth potential from highest to lowest were: Populus deltoides × P.euramericana ‘Nanlin895’ > Ligustrum compactum > Quercus virginiana > Zelkova serrate > Populus deltoides × P.nigra. 【Conclusion】The rice husk charcoal exhibited a good function to reduce salt content and improve soil, but it could adsorb valid nutritive elements. It could also effectively improve the survival rate of afforestation, promote the growth of young forests, and the best proportion was 10%.