Aims A heterogeneous spatially distribution of nutrients in natural soil may affect plant growth. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of localized nitrogen (N) supply treatments on growth traits and root parameters among different families in Pinus massoniana. Methods Five families of P. massoniana seedlings from full-sib progenies were used as test materials (1, 25, 49, 52, and 57). This study included two conditions, (i.e. homogeneous phosphorus (P) deficiency vs. heterogeneous P efficiency) among soil layers in combination with four N supply treatments in a one-year pot experiment. These N supply treatments were: (1) Homogeneously high N along the soil profile (HHH); (2) high N-high N-low N (HHL); (3) low N-low N-high N (LLH); (4) low N-low N-on side with N addition and the other side without N supply (LLH/L). Important findings This study indicated that localized N supply treatment did enhance the growth of P. massoniana, and this enhancement mainly happened in the pattern of N applied to deep soil. The results showed: 1) Compared to the homogeneous low P condition, there were increase in the growth traits and root parameters of P. massoniana under heterogeneous low P condition. Particularly, the root length and root surface area under the