Abstract: By using the methods of quantitative ecological carrying capacity (ECC) appraisal, the dynamic changes of the ECC of Yellow River Basin in Qinghai Province were investigated. The results showed that the ECC index decreased from 0.5096 in 1985 to 0.4700 in 1999, and would be 0.4263 in 2015. The ecosystem health in studied region was mostly at sub- or un-healthy level, and Huangshui Basin and the basins of Yellow River mainstream were at the lowest level. Among the sub-indices of ECC, the ecosystem health level corresponding to resources environmental carrying capacity was the highest. Human potential and ecological resilience were the two main factors affecting the ecosystem health of the studied region.

Key words: Chestnut, Soil fertility, Stem diseases, Regression analysis