Soil fertility — the ability of soil reserves to supply adequate levels of essential nutrients needed for plant growth — affects agricultural productivity and sustainability as well as environmental health. For nearly 50 years, there have been great improvements in the balance of nutrient input and output in farmland in the piedmont of Mount Taihang. Soil surveys carried out in 1978, 1989 and 1998 showed that the levels of soil organic matter, total nitrogen (N), total phosphorus (P), available P and other trace elements have increased, but that available potassium (K) levels have not. These results are similar to those obtained by estimating the nutrient balance, which indicate that the characteristics of nutrient cycling depend on the system of fertiliser application in farmland. Soil chemical fertility according to the Chinese classification Standard for Soil Nutrients is good on the whole. In the piedmont of Mount Taihang, nutrient management should focus on reducing the N input and increasing K levels in order to ensure sustainable productivity and good environmental health.