The influences of different psammophilic shrubs on the physical and chemical properties of aeoliansandy soil were studied in the Hexi Corridor.The results showed that total porosity

aggregate structure

storage capacity

soil organic matter

total N

available P

rapidly available K and CEC

layer thickness

litter accumulation of dry matter

water storage

and maximum water holding capacity of different forest shrubcould be ranked in a descending order as Haloxylon ammodendronforest shrub>Mongolion calligonum herbwith fruit>Hedysarum scoparium Frisch>bare sand(the control).In addition

bulk density

pH value

Ca-CO3and total salt of the soils could be ranked as bare sand(the control)>Hedysarum scoparium Frisch>Mongolion calligonum herb with fruit>Haloxylon ammodendron forest shrub.In short

the Haloxylonammodendronforest shrub could contribute greatly to soil and water conservation because of its high shrubdensity and fast accumulation rate of litters.