As a critical driving factor of ecosystem, precipitation plays a key role in shaping ecological landscape pattern in desert steppe. However, the response and adaptation mechanism of ecosystem nutrient cycle on precipitation remain unclear due to the complexity of spatio-temporal precipitation variation. In this study, soil-plant-|microbial C, N, P and their stoichiometric characteristics in different rainfall zones in the Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner were analyzed to investigate the nutrient utilization strategy of desert ecosystem driven by precipitation. The results show that, the mean TOC, TN, and TP contents of soil in different rainfall zones are 13.39 g/kg, 1.27 g/kg, and 0.46 g/kg, respectively. The mean soil C:N:P ratio is 28.9:2.7:1 in the study area, which is mainly controlled by P. The soil C, N and P contents in different rainfall zones in the study area shows a decreasing trend with the decrease of precipitation gradient. The C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios also indicate a decreasing trend with the decrease of precipitation gradient, which mainly reflects the difference of organic matter accumulation and mineralization ability in different rainfall zones. The mean microbial biomass C, N, and P contents in different rainfall zones are 0.37 g/kg, 0.022 g/kg, and 0.0039 g/kg, respectively. The mean C:N:P ratio of soil microbial biomass is 108.6:5.6:1 in different rainfall zones, which shows a C enrichment. The soil microbial biomass N:P ratio declines with the decreasing of precipitation. The mean C, N, and P contents of plants in different rainfall zones are 39.15%, 2.24%, and 0.33%, respectively. The mean plant C:N:P ratio is 117.4:6.7:1, which presents a limitation of C and N or a enrichment of P. The climatic reasons caused a relatively high P content in the environment of the study area. The P content of plants increases gradually with the decrease of precipitation. The plant C:N, C:P and C:N:P ratios in different rainfall zones show a decreasing trend with the decrease of precipitation. The N:P ratio of plants is more narrower than C:N and C:P ratios. The C:N and C:P ratios of Stipa breviflora are apparently higher than those of Stipa krylovii, which exists in the enclosed area. Under the same hydrothermal and nutrient conditions, Stipa breviflora shows a higher nutrient use efficiency (CUE), and therefore, is more suitable to survive in the harsh desertification environment. Compared with microorganism, the C:N, C:P and C:N:P ratios of plants are more narrower, and thus are more suitable as predictors of nutrient limitation. A significantly positive correlation at P < 0.01 is found between C and N contents in soil, which has a correlation coefficient of 0.98. The plant N and P show a significantly positive correlation (P < 0.05) with their correlation coefficient of 0.90. Among soil, plant, and microbial biomass in the study area, soil N has a significantly positive correlation (P < 0.05) and a significantly negative correlation (P < 0.05) with plant C (correlation coefficient 0.84) and P (correlation coefficient -0.82), respectively. The rest do not reach the significant level.