[Objective] To reveal the variations of nutrients in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil in rare earth mining area in Southern China, and to provide scientific basis and data support for local ecological restoration and soil and water conservation in erosive area.[Methods] Sample survey of rare mine in Changting County of Fujian Province was conducted and soil samples were assayed indoor to obtain carbon and nitrogen contents, pH values of two main soil and water conservation plants (Dicranopteris dichotoma and Liquidambar formosana) in three mines with different rehabilitation ages, and their values in the rhizosphere and the non-rhizosphere were compared among the three mines.[Results] (1) With the prolongation of mine harness, nutrients in D. dichotoma rhizosphere soil exhibited different changes:the contents of organic carbon and total nitrogen both increased, nitrate nitrogen content gradually reduced, pH value increased first and then decreased, ammonium nitrogen had no obvious change. In Liquidambar rhizosphere, the nitrate nitrogen content decreased, organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, pH value had no significant differences. (2) With the prolongation of harness, items of organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen in D. dichotoma non-rhizosphere soil all had no significant difference; pH value increased first and then decreased. In L. formosana non rhizosphere soil, no significant differences of organic carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, pH value among the three mines were observed. (3) The organic carbon content of D. dichotoma rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than that of non-rhizosphere soil. The contents of total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and pH value all had no significant differences; the soil nutrient content had no significant difference between L. formosana rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere.[Conclusions] Vegetation can improve soil, but the soil fertility restoration is a long-term process.