Abstract: 【Objective】 To explore the effect of zinc fertilizer application through drip irrigation on soil nutrients in cotton field, and to provide theoretical basis for guiding the application of zinc fertilizer with water drip irrigation. 【Methods】 Through field plot experiment, different amounts of zinc fertilizer were applied with water drop during cotton growth period. They are 0 kg/hm² (CK), 7.5 kg/hm² (Zn1), 15 kg/hm² (Zn2), 22.5 kg/hm² (Zn3), 30 kg/hm² (Zn4), 37.5 kg/hm² (Zn5), 45 kg/hm² (Zn6), respectively. The change characteristics of main nutrient contents in soil of 0-20 cm and 20- 40 cm under different application rates of zinc fertilizer were studied. 【Results】 With the increase of zinc fertilizer application amount, the available zinc content in 0-20 cm soil layer showed a gradual increase trend, and showed a fluctuation in 20-40 cm soil layer. Compared with no application of zinc fertilizer, the application of zinc fertilizer decreased the soil pH of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm cotton field, and increased the contents of alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus. The contents of alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus were the highest under Zn3 treatment, which were 84.16 and 84.68 g/kg, 31.93 and 30.40 g/kg, respectively. The contents of available potassium and iron in 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm cotton soil increased first and then decreased with the increase of zinc fertilizer application, and the highest contents were 548.33 and 552.00 g/kg, 10.35 and 10.55 mg/kg under Zn4 treatment. The available manganese and exchangeable magnesium in 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm cotton soil increased gradually with the increase of zinc fertilizer application, and the highest contents were 5.0 and 5.0 mg/kg, 4.48 and 4.48mg/kg under Zn6 treatment, respectively. To sum up, in the experiment of different zinc fertilizer dosage, soil pH value decreased when the drop application of zinc sulfate was 22.5-30.0 kg/hm², and the contents of alkali-hydrolytic nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, available zinc and available iron were all at a high value, while the contents of available manganese and exchangeable magnesium were the highest when the drop application of zinc was 45 kg/hm². 【Conclusion】 Zinc fertilizer had a positive effect on soil fertility of irrigated grey desert soil in Xinjiang oasis.