Purpose <p>Reconstruction of vegetation in global desertification areas increases above-ground litter. However, how litterfall dynamics influence soil particle size distribution and fractal geometric characteristics remains unclear, which is crucial for accurately measuring changes in soil quality.</p> Methods <p>This study investigated the effects of aboveground litter addition (DL), litter removal (NL), and natural restoration without litter treatment (CL) over a five-year period in the Hobq Desert. We analyzed soil nutrients and soil particle size distribution in the 0–2&#xa0;cm, 2–5&#xa0;cm, and 5–10&#xa0;cm layers under the three treatments and calculated the single fractal dimension (D) and multifractal characteristics of soil particle size based on fractal theory.</p> Results <p>Compared to the CL and NL treatments, DL significantly increased soil available nutrients in the 0–2&#xa0;cm layer, with organic carbon, available phosphorus, available potassium, and total nitrogen contents significant increases by 61.9%–123.22%, 80.04%–161.07%, 51.81%–72.06, and 38.46%–125%, respectively. Soil nutrient content showed a general trend of DL &gt; CL&gt; NL and decreased significantly with soil depth. Soil D ranged from 1.713 to 2.103 (DL), 1.733 to 2.023 (NL), and 1.780 to 1.987 (CL), differing among treatments. Furthermore, DL treatment broadened the distribution range of surface soil particles but reduced their uniformity and variability. As soil depth increased, the soil particle distribution width narrowed, accompanied by an increase in both uniformity and variability. Under NL treatment, due to the lack of litter protection on the soil surface, the distribution width of soil particles in the 2–10&#xa0;cm soil layer increased, and the uniformity and variability decreased compared to the 0–2&#xa0;cm soil layer.</p> Conclusion <p>Litter management measures directly and indirectly alter soil nutrient status and particle distribution characteristics.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>