A multi-parameter water quality detection method comprises the steps as follows: (1) preparing a standard solution, (2) creating a standard curve, 3) sampling a sample, 4) preprocessing the sample, 5) performing experimental determination and 6) calculating permanganate index concentration, ammonia nitrogen concentration and total nitrogen concentration. A multi-parameter water quality detector comprises a main unit body provided with a storage bin and an experiment bin. According to the detection method, detection of a permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen of a to-be-detected substance is realized through an absorption spectrum, the operation procedure is simplified, the on-line condition of the detector is facilitated, the defects of many required instruments and high cost of the different traditional methods are overcome, multiple parameters can be detected on line in real time by one detector, the measurement time is short, the accuracy is high, the detection limit is low, the lowest detection limit of total nitrogen is 0.5 mg/L, the lowest detection limit of ammonia nitrogen is 0.1 mg/L, the lowest detection limit of the permanganate index is 0.1 mg/L, and the detection requirements of the Quality standard for ground water and the Environmental quality standards for surface water (GB3838-2002) for total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and the permanganate index can be met.