【Objective】This study aimed to reveal the effects of drought on soil microbial biomass carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), as well as their ecological stoichiometric characteristics in poplar plantations. We also aimed to understand the soil C, N, and P biogeochemical cycles in poplar plantations under a future global drought scenario and provide a theoretical basis for the rational management of these plantations.【Method】Soil microbial biomass C (MBC), N (MBN) and P (MBP), along with their ecological stoichiometric characteristics (i.e., MBC/MBN, MBC/MBP, and MBN/MBP), and soil physicochemical properties, were examined in a poplar plantation (Populus deltoides) at Dongtai Forest Farm, Jiangsu Province, China. Three treatments were established in this study, control (CK), 30% throughfall reduction (D1), and 50% throughfall reduction (D2).【Result】(1) Soil MBC, MBN, and MBP were significantly reduced under drought conditions compared to the control, with reductions of 16.09%, 22.60%, and 32.49%, respectively, for the D2 treatment. Both MBC/MBN and MBC/MBP were significantly increased under drought conditions, with increases of 10.33% and 25.15%, respectively, in the D2 treatment, while soil MBN/MBP ratios did not change significantly. (2) Soil MBC, MBN and MBP showed significant seasonal variations, ranging from 344.67 to 500.12 mg/kg, 45.21 to 63.22 mg/kg, and 15.33 to 23.48 mg/kg, respectively. MBC, MBN, and MBP contents were lower in summer and fall than in winter and spring. In contrast, seasonal variations in MBC/MBN and MBC/MBP showed opposite trends to those of MBC, MBN, and MBP, while seasonal variations in MBN/MBP were not significant. (3) Compared with the control, drought treatments significantly reduced $\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}-\mathrm{N}$, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), available phosphorus (AP), and soil water content (SWC) by 68.81%, 32.77%, 29.87%, and 11.05%, respectively. Drought treatments increased soil pH and $\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$ content by 1.51% and 194.34%, respectively. Correlation analyses showed that soil MBC, MBN, and MBP had highly significant positive correlations with SWC and total nitrogen (TN) and significant or highly significant negative correlations with SOC, $\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$ content, and the total carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N). Soil MBC/MBN, MBC/MBP, and MBN/MBP showed significantly or highly significant positive correlations with $\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}-\mathrm{N}$ and C/N and significant or highly significant negative correlations with SWC and TN content.【Conclusion】Drought significantly affected soil microbial C, N, and P and their ecological stoichiometric characteristics in poplar plantations, potentially altering the soil nutrient balance and cycling in these plantations.