In order to evaluate the enhanced effect of soil organic carbon (SOC),total nitrogen (TN) and available nitrogen (AN) concentration under short-term restoration measures in erosion-degraded lands,we adopted the random stratified sampling strategy based on the theory of minimum detectable change (MDC),to eliminate spatial variability of SOC and nitrogen overtime. A typical erosion degraded forestland was selected,which located in the hilly red soil region of south China. 7 treatments were set up in this trial: No restoration measures (CT),tree and grass + fish scale pit (FG),tree and shrub + fish scale pit (FS),tree,shrub and grass + fish scale pit (FGS),tree and grass + small horizontal ditch (FGP),tree and shrub + small horizontal ditch (FSP),tree,shrub and grass + small horizontal ditch (FGSP). The results suggested that the vegetation coverage of each treatment increased significantly compared with those before the experiment,and the increase range was 7% to 50% after 18 months. Especially,the grass and shrub coverage significantly increased under each restoration measures. Except for FG and FS treatments,changes in SOC can be detected in all other treatments; except for FG treatment,changes in TN can be detected in all other treatments,while changes in AN can be detected in all treatments. The increase ranges of SOC,TN and AN content under each restoration measure were 0.10 to 2.08 g/kg,0.02 to 0.13 g/kg and 8.54 to 25.06 mg/kg,when compared with those before the experiment. The ranges of net increment of SOC,TN and AN were 34% to 101%,35% to 83% and 14% to 82%. The net increment of SOC in different treatments were in decreasing order of FGSP > FG > FGP > FGS > FSP > FS,while the net increment of TN showed as FS > FGS > FGSP > FGP > FSP > FG. The increment of SOC,TN and AN content in small horizontal ditch groups were significantly higher than those in fish scale pit groups. Near-surface grass and shrub vegetation coverage,is a key factor affecting changes in contents of SOC,TN and AN under erosion degraded forestland of red soil region. Local pioneer shrub plus grass with soil conservation engineering practices were the effective restoration measures for red soil erosion-degraded forest hillslope land and the improvement of SOC and nitrogen in the short term.