Abstract: To analyze plant functional traits of dominant species to nitrogen and phosphorus addition, three species (Bothriochloa ischaemum, Stipa bungeana, and Lespedeza davurica) were selected in the loess hilly-gully region. A split-plot experiment which included three N treatments (0, 50, and 100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) and three P treatments (0, 40, and 80 kg P₂O₅·hm^-2·a^-1) was conducted. At the fast-growing stage, leaf length, leaf width, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf N content, leaf P content, and leaf N:P were measured. Results showed that under 50 and 100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1 treatments, leaf length and width of B. ischaemum increased significantly by 35.3% and 64.4%, respectively, while only the leaf length of S. bungeana and the leaf width of L. davurica increased significantly by 58.8% and 33.9%, respectively. Leaf dry matter content of the three species decreased significantly by 10.7%, 15.3% and 11.2%, respectively. Leaf N content and N:P of B. ischaemum and S. bungeana increased significantly by 23.0% and 99.2%, 45.8% and 96.9%, respectively, compared with unfertilized treatments. Under 40 and 80 kg P₂O₅·hm^-2·a^-1 treatments, leaf length, leaf width and specific leaf area of L. davurica increased significantly by 56.9%, 41.4% and 19.6%, respectively, while leaf dry matter content decreased significantly by 14.9%. Leaf P content of three species increased significantly by 96.7%, 110.9% and 238.4%, while the N:P decreased significantly by 45.8%, 42.8% and 53.7%, respectively, compared with those under unfertilized. Under 50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1 treatment, compared with no P application, leaf length and leaf width of L. davurica and leaf P content of the three species significantly increased, and leaf N content of B. ischaemum and S. bungeana decreased significantly at 40 and 80 kg P₂O₅·hm^-2·a^-1 treatments. Under 100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1 treatment, leaf length of B. ischaemum and S. bungeana, leaf width of L. davurica and leaf P content of three species significantly increased, while leaf N content of B. ischaemum decreased significantly after P application. In summary, functional traits of dominant species showed significant responses to short-term nitrogen and phosphorus addition, with the different responses were mainly related to species traits and fertilization levels. Such difference reflected plant adaptation to habitat changes. The divergent responses of different species to nitrogen and phosphorus addition played an important role in maintaining diversity and stability of grassland communities.