The invention discloses a near-infrared fluorescent powder with broadband emission characteristics, and a preparation method and applications thereof, and belongs to the technical field of luminescentmaterial. The near-infrared fluorescent powder with broadband emission characteristics is suitable for near ultraviolet light and blue light chip excitation. The general chemical formula of the near-infrared fluorescent powder is Ca<2+x>Ln<1-x-y>Zr<2-x>Al<3>O<12>:xCr<3+>, yCe<3+>, and Cr<3+> is taken as a luminescence center, wherein Ln is used for representing one or a plurality of ions selectedfrom Y<3+>, Lu<3+>, and Gd<3+>, x and y are used for representing molar fractions, 0<x<=0.15, and 0<=y<=0.1. The near-infrared fluorescent powder can be taken as a light conversion material of near ultraviolet light LED chips or blue light LED chips, can be used for preparation of broadband near-infrared light sources, and is capable of satisfying requirements of blood oxygen detection or coherence tomography on infrared light sources with broadband emission characteristics.