Soil samples were collected from several sites with different distances away from water surface in Qingtu Lake, and then soil organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen, available phospherus and conductivity were measured to investigate the spatial variability of soil nutrients and the correlation among them. Results showed that: 1) soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium and electrical conductivity of the soil solution at 0–60 cm depth of soil profiles increased with the distance from water surface and reached their maximum values at sites of 100–150 m away from water surface and then decreased with the distance and reached their minimum values at site of 200 m away from water surface. These parameters then increased with further increase in distance away from water surface and reached their maximum values at site of 300 m away from water surface again. The waving changes of soil nutrients were consistent with original lake sediments and regional climate environment; 2) the variability of soil nutrient contents was significant, and each nutrient varied with soil depth. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen at the depth of 0–40 cm were higher than these at the depth of 40–80 cm. Soil total potassium content in 0–80 cm and total soil phosphorus in 60–80 cm were weak variation, other soil nutrients belonged to moderate variability; 3) at 0–40 cm soil depth, organic matter was positively correlated with total nitrogen, total potassium, available nitrogen, and the conductivity. The conductivity was positively correlated with available phosphorus, and total phosphorus. The contents of soil nutrients around Qingtu Lake were low. Interference of water formation changed the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and the effect of water formation on the vertical distribution of soil nutrients reached the depth of 40 cm.