[Objective] Zygophyllum xanthoxylum is one of the main constructive species of desert vegetation. To explore the competitive pressure of Z. xanthoxylum in the western Ordos region，as well as the competition between Z. xanthoxylum and rare endangered plants and other dominant species within the community, provides a reference for the conservation and restoration of desert ecosystems. [ Methods ] Four common Z. xanthoxylum community types in West Ordos were investigated, and the intraspecific and interspecific competition were analyzed by Hegyi competition index model.[Results] The results showed that the interspecific competition intensity accounted for 85.07 %, 80.52 %, 88.76 % and 80.52 % of the total competition intensity in the Z. xanthoxylum + Caragana brachypoda community, Z. xanthoxylum + Potaninia mongolica community, Z. xanthoxylum + Tetraena mongolica community and Z. xanthoxylum + Ammopiptanthus mongolicus community, respectively, indicating that the competitive pressure on Z. xanthoxylum mainly was came from interspecific competition. There were some differences in the competitive plant species of Z. xanthoxylum in different communities, C. brachypoda, P. mongolica, Artemisia sphaerocephala, T. mongolica, A. mongolicus and Reaumuria trigyna all had strong competitiveness to Z. xanthoxylum. The relationship of the interspecific competition and the total competition intensity with the crown width of Z. xanthoxylum was approximately subject to the power function. With the increase of crown width, the competition index decreased continuously, and the competition pressure on small-crowned Z. xanthoxylum was the largest. [ Conclusion] The Hegyi model can better reflect the competition status of Z. xanthoxylum. In the four Z. xanthoxylum communities, interspecific competition is greater than intraspecific competition. The main competitive plants in different Z. xanthoxylum communities have certain differences, and the competition pressure on small-crowned Z. xanthoxylum is stronger. Paying attention to the competitive pressure on young plants of Z. xanthoxylum, supplemented by appropriate artificial measures, can enhance the stability of the ecosystem.