Abstract: Field interchanging transplants and sand burial controlled experiments were conducted on Haloxylon ammodendron and H. persicum to compare the seed germination, seedling emergence and seedling growth. The results are as follows: (1) The pH value, EC and nutrient content in interdune soil were higher than that on dune top, especially the difference of EC is five times; (2) The density of H. persicum seedlings was always higher than that of H. ammodendron during seedling growth on dune top, but the situation was contrary in the interdune lowland; total seedling densities of H. ammodendron and H. persicum were higher on their own soil type, this differed significantly among the two microhabitats. Results reveal that the regeneration capability and adaptability of H. persicum were higher than those of H. ammodendron for the barren dune top soil, but the situation was contrary for the interdune lowland; (3) Emergence rate of the two species was decreased with the increase of sand burial depth, and at the same sand burial depth, the mortality of H. persicum seedlings was lower than that of H. ammodendron. H. ammodendron emerged at sand burial depth of 0-3 cm, and its optimal burial depth was 0.5 cm. H. persicum emerged at all sand burial depths, and its optimal burial depth was 0-3 cm. Date of beginning to emerge was significantly affected by sand burial depth, and at the same sand burial depth, the emergence time of H. persicum was later than that of H. ammodendron. However, the growth rate of absolute height, biomass, shootroot ratio, shoot length and root length of H. persicum were higher than those of H. ammodendron, and the growth rate of absolute height of H. persicum was significantly affected by sand burial depth. These results reveal that the capability of enduring sand burial of H. persicum is higher than that of H. ammodendron, and H. persicum is easier to survive in severe microhabitat with sand burial and wind erosion.

Key words: Haloxylon ammodendron, Haloxylon persicum, seedling emergence, sand burial depth, interchanging of soil matrix, seedling density