Abstract:By using the classical statistical and correlation analysis and one way analysis of variance, an investigation of vegetation quadrats and soil samples was carried out to assess the spatial variation of soil salinity and nutrient contents and their relationship under different vegetation communities (Tamarix chinensis, Suaeda salsa, Phragmites australis) of the Yellow River Estuary. The results showed that: 1) The contents of salinity (TS, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42-) and nutrients (available phosphorus, AP; available nitrogen, AN; total nitrogen, TN) in surface layers of soil profiles were obvious higher than those in other layers, and they declined with the increase of soil depth. 2) The studied soil belonged to heavy solonchak with the mean soil salinity more than 4.0 g/kg. Cl- and Na+ were the two most important ions contributing to soil salinization. There were great differences among different vegetation communities in total salinity in the surface layers (0–5 cm) with an order of Tamarix chinensis> Suaeda salsa > Phragmites australis. Sodium adsorption ratio indicated that the three vegetation could be poisoned by Na+ in the layer of 10~20 cm. K+, Na+ and HCO3- were significantly different among different vegetation communities. Except for TP, the other soil nutrients were significantly different between different vegetation communities in the same soil layer or among the same vegetation communities in different soil layers. 3) correlation between salinity and nutrients were not significant in the three vegetation communities, however, total salt had significant correlation with Na+ (P<0.05) and Cl- (P<0.01). Soil nutrients were insufficient and the soil was infertile. The soil N:P under the three vegetation communities was less than 14, consequently, nitrogen was the limited nutrient factor to the growth of vegetation in study area. Therefore, controlling or reducing chloride and sodium, increasing organic manure and covering with organic matter are the optional ways to alleviate soil salinization in the Yellow River Estuary Wetland.