In this study four kinds of typical plots, with vegetation cover of 30%, 15%-20%, 10%, and < 5%, respectively, were selected to investigate the spatial variation of soil nutrients in Tamarix ramosissima nebkhas and interdune areas in a Qira oasis-desert ecotone at the southern rim of the Taklimakan desert. Soil samples from two layers (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) of the nebkha and interdune in the four plots were collected for analysis of the litter, soil organic matter, total N, total P, total K, available N, available P, and available K content. The following results were obtained: First, with decreasing vegetation cover from Plot 1 to Plot 4, litter content, soil organic matter content, total N content, total K content, and available K content in the top (0-10 cm) layer of the nebkhas decreased by 69.3%, 37.0%, 35.3%, 8.3%, and 24.5%, respectively. The available N and available P content decreased at first, and then increased with decrease in vegetation cover, while total P content showed no obvious change. Second, the litter content, soil organic matter content, total N content, total P content, available N content, available P content, and available K content in the top layer first decreased, and then increased from under shrub to the margin of the nebkha, to the interdune, to the leeward shadow. The maximum values were mainly found under shrub, while the minimum values were mainly found in the interdune regions. For each soil nutrient index, there was no significant difference between the four positions in Plot 4 (vegetation cover is < 5%). Third, compared with the top soil layer, there was a significant reduction in litter content, organic matter content, total N content, total P content, total K content, available P content, and available K content in the bottom (10-20 cm) soil layer. The above corresponding mean values were lower by 40.0%, 27.0%, 25.0%, 4.5%, and 2.0%, respectively, while total K content, available N content, and available K content were higher by 4.8%,103.3%, and 12.1%, respectively. With decreasing vegetation coverage, the changes in soil nutrient content in the two soil layers showed a consistent trend. Fourth, in non-desertified and lightly desertified areas of the oasis-desert ecotone, the biological feedback of shrubs led to obvious nutrient enrichment effects around them. However, as the total vegetation cover decreased and the intensity of desertification increased, non-biological factors began to play leading roles, and the nutrient enrichment effects of shrubs tended to disappear gradually.