Abstract: A study has been conducted to analyze the use of chemical fertilizer and contamination of groundwater through investigation with a questionnaire among farmers and analysis of sampled groundwater in a typical vegetable cultivation area in Gaocheng City,Hebei Province.The results show that the application rate of chemical fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer was 1 408.6 kg·hm^-2 and 840.8 kg·hm^-2(on the basis of net element)respectively,in 2001 in that region.The application rate of nitrogen fertilizer varied with the cultivation pattern and in an decreasing order of "large-sized plastic shed>green house>medium-sized plastic shed>small-sized plastic shed>film mulching>open field".The highest content of nitrate in the groundwater was detected under open fields in August and under film mulching in November.The study also shows that the nitrate pollution to the groundwater in the intensive sheltered vegetable cultivation area is the most serious.

Key words: vegetable cultivation area, chemical fertilizer, groundwater, nitrate