The water absorbency and releasing characteristics of several water-retaining agents were analyzed in regard to their influences on soil water contents and survival rates of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings,and further summarized the critical afforestation techniques of Haloxylon ammodendron under desert condition with application of water-retaining agents.The results showed that under the condition of fully saturated,the agents can be ranked in a descending order of water absorbency ability as HongsenHaimingJinyuanyiWote.Considering both water absorbency and water release rate,Haiming showed the best water-saving effectiveness.Dry application of water-retaining agent decreased enormously its water absorption ability under the natural conditions.In contrast,wet application of water-retaining agent significantly increased the soil water content in 20-30 cm depth of the soil and the survival rate of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings(p0.01).Wet application of 60 g per stem was the best treatment.We concluded that in the afforestation of Haloxylon ammodendron in desert condition,the application of water-retaining agent should follow the procedures: soaking agent fully with water first(60 g per stem),applying under wet condition,and then burying and mixing the agent into the soil at the depth of 20-30 cm and near the roots.