In this study, the dynamic changes of plant community characteristics, soil physicochemical properties and their correlations in severely degraded alpine meadow by different restoration measures (fertilization i.e. F, no-tillage reseeding i.e. N, fertilization+no-tillage reseeding i.e. FN) in the Yellow River source, China were investigated by field investigation and laboratory studies. The aims were to elucidate the driving factors of the reverse transformation of the degraded alpine meadow. Results showed that the rehabilitation measure of no-tillage reseeding (N) significantly increased the richness index of the meadow (P<0.05), while fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) significantly increased the coverage, total biomass, Shannon Wiener diversity index and Pielous evenness index of the alpine meadow (P<0.05). The change trend of aboveground and underground biomass of plant functional groups was the same after different artificial restorations (except Leguminosae). Compared with control treatment, the aboveground and underground biomasses of Cyperaceae and weeds under no-tillage reseeding (N)and fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) decreased by 83.04%, 73.86%, 96.51%, 84.09% and 30.43%, 92.37%, 85.68%, 95.36%, respectively. The aboveground and underground biomasses of Gramineae under fertilization (F), no-tillage reseeding (N) and fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) increased by 7.29%, 23.45%, 17.93%, and 6.04%, 4.03%, 10.52%, respectively. The aboveground biomass of Leguminosae remained basically unchanged, and the belowground biomass under fertilization (F), no-tillage reseeding (N) and fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) decreased by 24.43%, 82.19% and 42.61%, respectively. Fertilization (F) significantly increased soil organic carbon content (P=0.033); No-tillage reseeding (N) significantly decreased soil nitrate nitrogen content (P=0.009); Fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) significantly affected soil pH and available phosphorus content (P=0.024); Fertilization (F) and fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) reseeded significantly increased soil water content (P=0.000), while no-tillage reseeding (N) significantly decreased soil water content (P=0.000); Fertilization (F) significantly inhibited soil bulk density (P=0.018). Correlation analysis showed that plant Shannon Wiener diversity index and Pielous evenness index were significantly positively correlated with soil available phosphorus content (P=0.037; P=0.033). Soil organic carbon and water content were significantly positively correlated with plant total biomass (P=0.027; P=0.032), and soil pH was significantly negatively correlated with plant coverage (P=0.049). Redundancy analysis showed that soil organic carbon content and water content were the most significant factors affecting vegetation characteristics, the interpretation rates were 30.3% and 19.7%, respectively. In conclusion, fertilization+no-tillage reseeding (FN) could significantly improve grassland productivity, plant community, soil nutrient and water environment of the severely degraded alpine meadow in the Yellow River source, China.