Abstract:In this paper we selected six kinds of degraded alpine meadows in Maqing, Qinghai, to explore the changes of the vegetation characteristics and soil nutrient elements and physical properties under the different grazing intensities and artificial management measures. The results showed that with increasing degradation of alpine meadows, the coverage, height, biomass and species of meadows decreased, weeds gradually replaced grasses, the contents of soil nitrogen, carbon and moisture decreased, soil bulk density increased. However, compared with severely-degraded grassland, artificial manipulation could improve all the above properties of the meadows and soils. It showed that soil fertility will become lower with vegetation degradation but can be improved by artificial manipulation in the alpine meadow regions.