Keywords: 
• Western Sichuan plateau /
• Degraded grassland /
• Hippophae rhamnoides /
• Soil nutrients /
• Leaf nutrient resorption

Abstract: In this paper studies were made of the growth,soil nutrient and leaf nutrient resorption of Hippophae rhamnoides,which was cultivated on degraded grassland for 1~3 years in Western Sichuan plateau.The results showed that,with the increase of planting years,the plant height,crown width,leaf length and leaf width of seedlings increased,the number of lateral branches and root length first increased and then decreased.Compared with Salix paraplesia in the same area,the contents of total phosphorus,available phosphorus and organic matter were higher in the rhizosphere soil of H.rhamnoides,and the contents of hydrolytic nitrogen were lower.The nitrogen and phosphorus contents (Ng and Pg) in the leaves of H.rhamnoides were 23.24 mg·g^-1 and 1.84 mg·g^-1 respectively,which were lower than typical northern psammophyte (27.42 mg·g^-1 and 3.68 mg·g^-1).The leaf phosphorus recovery efficiency (PRE) was as high as 69.35% in H.rhamnoides,which was restricted by the insufficient supply of phosphorus in the soil.The leaf nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) was 59.88% in Salix paraplesia,which was more restricted by the advisability of nitrogen of the soil.The nitrogen fixation in the roots of H.rhamnoides could compensate for the insufficient supply of soil nitrogen in the degraded grassland.