Abstract: Based on the field investigation and research, a comparative study on oasis forming conditions, coordination of water and heat, distribution patterns and affecting factors of oasis agriculture in Central Asia and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was carried using the comprehensive research system of graphic analysis related to precipitation, temperature and unscrambled dryness (K and K′value). The results showed that the study area could be divided into four types. The first type was the oasis agricultural area in alluvialproluvial fan and alluvial plain in piedmont in Central Asia; the second one was the oasis agricultural area in alluvialproluvial fan and alluvial plain in piedmont in Xinjiang; the third one was the oasis agricultural area along the banks of rivers and lakes in deserts in Central Asia; and the last one was the oasis agricultural area along the banks of rivers and lakes in deserts in Xinjiang. It was found that the different types of oasis agricultural area affected the oasis agriculture mainly in two aspects. One was irrigation mode. Based on strengthening the water conservancy construction and implementing the rational irrigation in alluvialproluvial fan in piedmont, rainfall in rainy season should be fully used, and watersaving irrigation should be carried out in the oasis agricultural area in alluvialproluvial fan and alluvial plain in piedmont. Moreover, watersaving irrigation was more important in the oasis agricultural area along the banks of rivers and lakes in deserts of Central Asia and Xinjiang. The other aspect was cotton planting. The oasis agricultural area along the banks of rivers and lakes in desert was very suitable to plant cotton, the oasis agricultural areas in alluvialproluvial fan and alluvial plain in piedmont were also suitable to grow cotton because of high temperature, and the rational cultivation techniques were needed. It, however, was not suitable to grow cotton in the regions with high altitude and high latitude.

Key words: oasis agriculture, climate, dryness, cotton, Xinjiang, Central Asia