The desertification combating areas around Qinghai Lake were selected in the study. The number and characteristics of soil microbe were examined through field survey and sampling and laboratory test. (1) The areas

in order of decreasing soil microbe gross

were semi-fixed dune in sand island

the lowland between sandy dunes in Ketu

shrubs in Ketu

shrubs in sand island

straw checkerboard barriers zone in Hudong sheep stud

mobile dune

straw checkerboard barriers zone planted with Hippophae thibetana Schlechtend. in Ketu

straw checkerboard barriers zone planted with Populus cathayana Rehd. in Ketu and straw checkerboard barriers zone recently set in the demonstration area. (2) In early combating areas

the vegetable coverage was high

the vertical distribution of soil microbe showed that the amount in topsoil(0-10 cm) was much more than subsoil layer(10-30 cm)

and the content of soil microbe was richer than other sample plots. (3) In the mobile dunes and straw checkerboard barriers combating areas

soil microbe was very few

and its number in lower layer was a little higher than the upper layer

due to the better situation of soil water content in the lower layer of mobile dunes.