Shrub type plays an essential role in ecosystem recovery and affects soil quality, especially soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents. Studies on the effects of different shrub types on soil C, N and P stoichiometry are beneficial to understand the processes and functions of the ecological system. C, N and P stoichiometry are estimated in four typical shrubs: Caragana microphylla, Atraphaxis manshurica, Salix flavida and Artemisia halodendron. In order to elucidate the effect on ability of different shrub types on soil nutrient elements under the same environmental conditions and provide guidance for desertification control and ecological restoration, we measured soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) contents in depth of 0-80 cm, compared ecological stoichiometry characteristics in different shrubs and soil depths and explored the correlation between indicators. Results showed that: (1)the mean contents of SOC，TN and TP were 0.90-2.18 g/kg, 0.19-0.32 g/kg and 0.27-0.32 g/kg. The average concentrations of SOC, TN and TP in 0-80 cm soil layer of A. manshurica is the highest in all of them. SOC and TN of C. microphylla and A. manshurica were significantly higher than that in others, but there were no significant differences between C. microphylla and A. manshurica. The average concentrations of TP in these four shrubs were no significant differences.(2)The contents of SOC, TN and TP in the surface layer (0-10 cm) of each shrub type were significantly affected by vegetation type. The surface layer (0-10 cm) of four shrubs was significantly higher than other layers. And they significantly declined with increasing soil depth.(3)The concentrations of SOC and TN decreased with the increase of soil depth in four shrubs, showed“inverted Pyramid”distribution pattern. However, the content of TP was no obviously change with the increase of soil depth, appeared“cylinder”distribution pattern.(4)The average ratios of C∶N, C∶P of A. manshurica were the highest, followed by A. manshurica and S. flavida, the lowest was found in A. halodendron. The ratios of C∶N, C∶P, N∶P and their differences decreased with the increase of soil depth. Both soil N∶P and C∶P ratios significantly declined with increasing soil depth, whereas the vertical pattern of soil C∶N ratio has high stability.(5)The correlations between SOC, TN and TP were significant, the ratios of C∶N, C∶P were mostly influenced by the content of SOC, the N∶P ratio was mostly influenced by the content of SOC, TN, and the ratios of C∶N, N∶P were significantly influenced by the ratio of C∶P. In summary, the difference of the adaptability of the 4 kinds of planting species was significant．A. manshurica and C. microphylla take effects in increasing soil nutrients obviously.