Zirconium-based　perovskite　materials　with　different　alkaline　earth　metals　were　synthesized　by　the　citric　acid　method　and　used　as　supports　for　ruthenium　catalysts　to　catalytic　ammonia　synthesis　reaction.　The　effects　of　alkaline　earth　metals　on　the　texture　properties,　basicity,　and　catalytic　activity　were　discussed.　Additionally,　the　desorption　properties　of　H2　on　the　surface　of　various　catalysts　were　characterized　by　temperature-programmed　desorption.　The　results　showed　that　there　were　lots　of　strong　basic　sites　appeared　on　the　Ca,　Sr,　and　Ba　perovskite-style　supports,　and　the　order　of　activity　was　Ba　>　Sr　>　Ca.　The　addition　of　different　alkaline　earth　metals　not　only　affected　the　electron　donating　ability　but　also　influenced　the　metal-support　interaction　as　well　as　the　adsorption-desorption　properties　of　these　catalysts.　The　adsorption　of　H2　was　inhibited　significantly　by　the　presence　of　BaZrO3　and　increased　the　number　of　active　sites　for　dissociatively　adsorbed　N2　which　may　be　the　major　reason　why　the　Ru/BaZrO3　catalyst　exhibited　so　high　activity　for　ammonia　synthesis.　©　2013,　Dalian　Institute　of　Chemical　Physics,　Chinese　Academy　of　Sciences.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.