Abstract: Soil samples were collected and analyzed from the riparian zone in the lower reaches of the Bortala and Jinghe rivers, the main feeding rivers of the Ebinur Lake. The pH values and the contents of total salt and 8 ions in soil under the different conditions of vegetation coverage were measured. The correlation analysis and statistical analysis were used in the study. The results showed that, under the different conditions of vegetation coverage, the total salt and ion contents in topsoil and soil at 20 cm depth were higher than those at other soil layers in riparian zone in the lower reaches of the two rivers, and salt accumulation in topsoil was significant. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between total salt and K⁺、Na⁺、Cl^－、HCO^-3 contents in different soil layers in the riparian zone in lower reaches of the Bortala River, and also between total salt content and K⁺、Na⁺、Cl^－、Mg ²⁺ in soil in the riparian zone in lower reaches of the Jinghe River. Soil salinization in the riparian zone in lower reaches of the two rivers was mainly caused by accumulation of chlorides.

Key words: soil salinity, ion content, vertical distribution, correlation analysis, Bortala River, Jinghe River, Xinjiang