The investigation of abandoned soils of the Arctic regions is especially relevant in the framework of modern agricultural re-development of the northern territories. The work presents the
results of studies on the content of the major nutrients (available forms of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen) in abandoned agricultural soils and some background soils of Yamal region. On the basis of the work done, we can conclude that soils in permafrost conditions are able to save their fertile qualities, even after a 20-year period of abandonment.