The abundance-deficiency index (ADI) of soil N,P,K and the appropriate fertilizer application rates for potato in China were studied. The methods of scattered theoretical data integration and the new applied formula based on “nutrient balance and projected yield minus soil fertility yield” for determining the appropriate fertilizer application rates were employed. The results show that the ADI of soil total nitrogen for potato in China from the first to the seventh level are ≥2.22, 1.55-2.22, 1.08-1.55, 0.76-1.08, 0.53-0.76, 0.37-0.53 and <0.37 g/kg, respectively. The ADI of soil alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen are ≥306, 203-306, 135-203, 90~135, 60~90, 40~60 and <40 mg/kg. The ADI of soil available P (Olsen-P) from the first to the seventh level in north China are ≥50, 25-50, 13-25, 7-13, 4-7, 2-4 and <2 mg/kg, respectively. The ADI of soil available P (Olsen-P) from the first to the sixth level in south China are ≥81, 43-81, 27-43, 15-27, 4-15 and <4 mg/kg. The ADI of soil available K (NH4OAc-K) from the first to the sixth level in China were ≥307, 182-307, 120-182, 72-120, 31-72 and <31 mg/kg, respectively. When the N, P and K fertilizer use efficiency of current season is 40%, 20% and 50%, respectively, and the projected yield of potato is 15-75 t/hm 2, the ranges of appropriate N fertilizer application rates from the first to the seventh level soil are 0-0, 23-113, 45-225, 68-338, 90-450, 113-563 and 135-675 kg/hm 2, respectively. The ranges of the appropriate P fertilizer application rates from the first to the seventh level soil are 0-0, 12-60, 24-120, 36-180, 48-240, 60-300 and 72-360 kg/hm 2. The ranges of the appropriate K fertilizer application rates from the first to the sixth level soil are 0-0, 21-105, 42-210, 63-315, 84-420, 105-525 and 126-630 kg/hm 2, respectively.