This study was conducted to understand the influence of surface coverage on soil infiltration in the farming-grazing transitional zone by taking Yanchi County

Ningxia Hui Automous Region as an example. The sample line method was used for the survey of plantcoverage and infiltration measurements were carried outin sample plots. After field data were processed and analyzed

the effects of ground patterns on infiltra-tion were then examined. Results show thatplantgrowth can accelerate infiltration and plantcoverage is exponentially related to infiltration depth with a correlation coefficientof 0. 893. The withered materials can significantly preventwater infiltration and the two presenta logarithmic relation ata correlation coefficientof 0. 921. Bio-crustclearly impedes water infiltration and bio?crustcoverage is negatively correlated to infiltra? tion depth with a correlation coefficientof -0. 765. This implies thatbio?crustis mainly responsible for the thinning trend of soil water content.