A systematic approach for soil nutrient status study was introduced to China in 1988. The method includes 1) soil sampling; 2) soil testing for 11 nutrients content; 3) soil adsorption for 7 nutrients; 4) greenhouse study; and 5) field experiment. Pot experiments have been conducted to study nutrient status of 104 soils from 13 provinces. Of the 104 soils, 100 were deficient in N, 101 deficient in P,60 deficient in K, 38 deficient in Zn, 23 deficient in S and 22 deficient in B. The number of soils showing deficiency in Mo,Ca,Mg,Cu,Mn and Fe was 19,18,14,13,11 and 3, respectively. The findings in greenhouse study have been verified in field experiments of selected soils.