0-300 cm soil nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of 21 apple orchards of 6 apple production counties of the Loess Plateau as apple production bases were measured and compared, and accordingly their nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium profile characteristics were examined. It was revealed that (1) Of the orchards of the Counties, the average nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents were 0.54 g/kg, 0.53 g/kg and 6.79 g/kg, the average available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents were 102.66 mg/kg, 7.95 mg/kg and 102.75 mg/kg, respectively. Among the orchards of the counties, the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents significantly differed. The phosphorus totals of the apple orchards of Fengxiang County were not at an adequate level. The phosphorus and potassium totals of the apple orchards of Baishui County were not at an adequate level. The nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of the apple orchards of Changwu County and Xifeng District were at an adequate or high level. The nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of the apple orchards of Yan'an were at a deficient level. The nitrogen totals of the apple orchards of Jingning County were at a deficient level. Among all the soil nutrient parameters, the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium totals of the apple orchards varied less than their available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents. The nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of the orchards lying in Heilu soil covered central Loess Plateau (e.g. Changwu County and Xifeng District) were the highest, and the nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of the orchards lying in loess covered northern hilly Loess Plateau (e.g. Yan'an and Jingning County) were the lowest. (2) The soil nutrient parameters of the orchards of the counties presented similar profile distributions. All the nutrient totals and available nutrient contents but the potassium totals and available nitrogen contents of all the orchards of the counties presented the obvious effect of "surface enriching". The nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium contents of the orchards were higher in top soil than in soil beneath topsoil. (3) Of the orchards of the apple production counties, the nitrogen total stood at a deficient or slightly deficient level, the available nitrogen contents stood at an adequate, moderate or deficient level, the available phosphorus contents were at a moderate or deficient level, and the available potassium contents were at a sufficient level or an adequate level. The soil phosphorus contents of the orchards lying in the southern part of the Plateau with terrace lands and brown soil (e.g. Fengxiang County and Baishui County) and so in this part, the orchards should increase Phosphate fertilizer rates and fertilization depths. The orchards standing in the highland and Heilu soil-covered central part of the Plateau (e.g. Changwu County and Xifeng District) suffered soil nitrogen deficiency and thus in the part, the orchards should increased the uses of organic and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilizers in a formulated manner. The orchards located in the hilly loess part of the loess Plateau (e.g. Yan'an and Jingning County) suffered phosphorous and potassium deficiencies. It was proposed that the orchards concerned greatly increase organic fertilizer uses, properly increased potassium fertilizer uses, and apply Nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers in a formulated manner.