An experiment was conducted to reveal vegetation characteristics and soil properties under four different habitats in the transitional zone in south fringe of Mu Us sandy land and to explore sandy desertification status in the region.Results showed that total vegetation coverage

herbaceous coverage

and species richness were all decreased

and perennial species gradually gave place to psammophyte annuals

shrubs

and semi-shrubs from gentle slope hilly ridge

through saline bottomland and fixed and semi-fixed dune

and to shifting and semi-shifting dune.Landform units

in terms of soil water content

were in the ascendant order of shifting and semi-shifting dune

fixed and semi-fixed dune

gentle slope hilly ridge

and saline bottomland.Soil clay and silt particles

organic matter

total N and other nutrient contents decreased

while soil sand particles increased from gentle slope hilly ridge to shifting and semi-shifting dune as a whole.Changes of pH and soluble salinity concentrations had no obvious laws observed.Overall

vegetation was unstable

floristic composition was dominated by adversity-resistant species

and annual species had a higher ratio in this region.The dominant soil particle was sand and soil water and other nutrient contents were low.The eco-environment was fragile and erodible.