In order to investigate the differences of nutrient status of tributaries in Lake Taihu basin and the impact of land use on water quality, ten tributaries of Xitiaoxi River were chosen. Total phosphorus (TP), particle phosphorus (PP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen(NH₄⁺-N), nitrate(NO₃^--N), chemical oxygen demand (COD) values of tributary waters were 0.033-0.205, 0.007-0.104, 2.014-5.921, 0.021-1.659, 1.082-3.415 and 6.5-18.5mg/L, respectively. The concentration of nutrients and COD had a significant temporal variation in the following orders:dry season >normal season >wet season. The tributaries were polluted at various levels. TN concentrations of waters were high in some tributaries. The tributaries can be divided into four categories according to the clustering analysis on nutrient parameters. Fluxes of nutrients and COD showed from high to low amount in the order:wet season >normal season >dry season, which indicated that they were mainly controlled by discharge. Land use was the most important factor affecting water quality in tributaries of Xitiaoxi River. Cultivated land, residential area had a positive impact on water quality, while there were negative correlation between water quality and the forestland, grassland. In wet season and dry season, cultivated land and forestland had the most important impact on nutrients and COD, while in normal season, residential land and forestland had the most remarkably important influence on TP and TN, respectively.