Abstract: The objective for this study was to provide a scientific basis for evaluating the effects of different amelioration methods on plant nutrient utilization in degraded soil by analyzing their influence on yield, quality and nutrient content of vegetables. Seven amelioration treatments were assessed across four different vegetables including lettuce and water spinach. Compared with the control (CK), amelioration treatments improved the yield of vegetables, especially NPKH (N-P-K fertilizer+biomass ash) and NPKW (N-P-K fertilizer+biological fertilizer). Amelioration treatments increased the nitrate (N{Invalid MML}-N) content of vegetables compared with CK. The nitrate content of lettuce complied with Regulation GB/T15401, suggesting it did not reduce the quality of lettuce. Nitrate contents under the fertilizer plus amendment treatments were lower than those under the fertilizer (NPK) only treatments; nitrate content for the NPKW treatment was 7.8%-63.0% lower than NPK treatments. The NPKH treatment increased amino acid content, reduced nitrate content and improved apparent N recovery rate of N fertilizer. NPKH also markedly improved P and K contents in lettuce. However, compared with the CK, the K content of lettuce under NPKH was reduced by 43.4%-58.9%. The fertilizer utilization efficiency under NPKH and NPKW was higher than other treatments in water spinach, increasing the N, P, K content of water spinach under these treatments. This research indicates that fertilizer application with amendments can maintain high vegetable crop yields and stimulate N uptake and transformation by the crop.