Carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems is recognized as a key mechanism for mitigating the accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, both forest carbon pools and sequestration vary according to tree species, age of the stand, soil types, climate, environmental disturbances, and management practices. Tree species composition and management practices are important tools for increasing carbon storage in forest ecosystems. Plantation is becoming a key component of the world's forest resources and is playing an important role in sustainable forest management. Well-designed, multi-purpose plantations can reduce the pressure on natural forests and complement some ecological resources provided by natural forests in addition to mitigating climate change through direct carbon sequestration. Afforestation and reforestation are important measures for managing commercial forests in subtropical China. However, the large-scale development of monoculture plantations of coniferous species (e.g., Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata) and exotic species (Eucalyptus spp.) has caused a number of problems, such as the loss of biodiversity, degradation of soil fertility, reduction of ecosystem stability, and loss of ecological resources. Thus, some broad-leaved tree species with different functions (e.g., indigenous valuable broad-leaved species and nitrogen-fixing species) have been developed for restructuring the plantations. In this study, three young plantation stands (monoculture of Erythrophleum fordii, monoculture of P. massoniana and a mixed stand of the two species) were selected to study carbon and nitrogen storage in these ecosystems and their spatial distribution. The results showed that the total carbon storage of the mixed plantation stand was 137.75 t/hm², higher than that of monoculture stands of E. fordii (134.07 t/hm²) and P. massoniana (131.10 t/hm²). Nitrogen storage was highest in E. fordii (10.19 t/hm²), followed by the mixed plantation (8.68 t/hm²), and then P. massoniana stands (7.01 t/hm²). The spatial distribution of carbon and nitrogen was identical in the three plantation stands, with the majority found in the 0-100 cm soil (occupying an average 81.49% and 96.91% of the total storage, respectively), followed by the above-ground biomass represented by the trees (17.52% and 2.69%, respectively), and the understory vegetation and litterfall. Soil organic carbon was mainly distributed in the top-soil, while soil nitrogen was irregularly distributed. Average organic carbon storage in 0-30 cm soil was 52.52 t/hm² (47.99% of the total 0-100 cm soil storage). The mixed plantation stands showed a greater capacity for carbon storage in comparison to the other two monoculture stands. The above-/underground ratio of carbon and nitrogen suggested that these three young plantation stands had a high potential for carbon and nitrogen sequestration. The results are significant in that they provide scientific references for tree species selection and plantation management to enhance productivity and carbon sequestration in subtropical China.