[Objective] The windbreak and sand fixation effects of Haloxylon ammodendron forest lands were analyzed to provide insights for local desertification control and reliable basis for ecological construction.[Methods] H. ammodendron woodland in the Mosuowan area on the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert was taken as a study area. According to the distance from the sand source

four typical H. ammodendron sample plots were selected for soil collection

and the particle size distribution characteristics were analyzed.[Results] H. ammodendron forest located at the sand source had good uniformity and sorting of the sand source because of the dust coming from the Gurbantunggut Desert. The soil particle size was mainly affected by vegetation coverage

which increased the fine-particle composition on the sand surface. Under certain vegetation cover

the average grain size of the surface soil decreased with the increase of sand source distance

mainly because vegetation intercepts sand and dust substances

causing a difference in the particle size of the surface soil. The average particle size of the surface soil increased compared with the lower layer

and there was greater variation close to the sand source. However

the difference in kurtosis and skewness of soil particle size was not significant.[Conclusion] The difference in particle size characteristics of the surface soil reflected the influence of wind-sand activity intensity on H. ammodendron forests under different vegetation coverage. Natural vegetation zones and artificial H. ammodendron forests could effectively intercept and fix a large amount of wind erosion substances. However

because the growth condition of natural vegetation was not as good as that of artificial forest

the effect of the interception of wind-blown sand was weaker under vegetation degradation and wind erosion. Therefore

afforestation on the periphery of the natural vegetation zone played a vital role in blocking local wind-blown sand.