Abstract: Achnatherum splendens distributes in the arid and semiarid areas of Eurasia, and has important ecological functions and multifold economic values. In this paper, the soil electric conductivity at 9 sites with the distribution of A. splendens and its adjacent zonal communities in Inner Mongolia and Qinghai was determined, aimed to reveal the effects of soil salinity on the spatial distribution of A. splendens community at habitat and regional scales, and to analyze the vegetation property of A. splendens community based on soil salinity characteristics. At regional scale, no direct correlation was observed between soil salinity and the distribution of A. splendens community. A. splendens could form community both on salt-rich and on salt-poor soils, being a saline-resistant plant with wide ecological amplitude. However, at habitat scale, A. splendens community was always found on the soil with higher salinity, compared with adjacent zonal Stipa community, implying that Stipa community was less saline-resistant. In fact, A. splendens  had a wide distribution in high salinity soil environment in Qinghai, implying its azonal vegetation characteristic. The distribution of A. splendens  community had no direct correlation with precipitation.

Key words: Cultivation practices, Indica, Japonica, Iron plaque outside roots, Cd-polluted soil