Abstract: Through two short periods (1984, 1985) of field work, the author investigated 10 plant, communities and their Soils and ground water in the Qira R. Basin of Southern Xinjiang and in the Manas R. Basin of Northern Xiniiang. The indicative significances of these 10 plant communities are as follows：1. Tamarix ramosissima is a Cl-and S-rich plant. It was also found that the soil it grows on is rich in C1- and SO42-. 2. Haloxylon ammodendron and Haloxylon persicum are similar in their chemical composition, both the Na-rich plants. The relative Na+ ion content of their soil are greater than 50% too. 3. Reaumuria soongorica. In Southern Xinjiang, this dwarf semishrub occurs on gravelly gobi of piedmont, while in Northern Xinjiang, it is found on the plain covered with loess or loessial material. The average salinity of the surface soil (0--30cm) is generally less than 1% 4. Karelinia caspica. This composite perennial is found to be a phreatophyte. The depth of the ground water table is generally 3 metres below the ground surface. It is also an S-rich plant which may be used as an indicator of higher relative content of SO42- ion in the soil. 5. Alhagi sparsifolia is a leguminosae perennial, and has a deep root system. In Southern Xinjiang, it distributes generally in depressions among sand dunes and flat sandy plains. It is an indicator of fresh ground water. The depth of ground water table lies at about 5 metres below soil surface, and the salinity of the soil is low. 6. Halimodendron halodendron. This is a phreatophyte too. In the Manas River Basin, it may indicate that the ground water table lies at a depth of 2–4m. Its ash content is rather low, and this may be due to the weak salinization of the soil. 7. Ephedra przewalskii is a dwarf shrub, mainly found in Southern Xinjiang. It distributes on sandy gravelly piedmont gobi, with brown desert soil. In the soil profile there exists an illuvium layer of gypsum. 8. Lycium ruthenicum. This solanaceae shrub is a typical halophyte. The average salinity of its soil (0—30cm) generally exceeds 2%. It is a Na-and Cl-rich plant. The relative contents of Na+ and C1-ion in the soil are rather high. 9. Artemisia parvula always occurs on slopes covered with "Kunlun loess", it is a K-rich plant, and can be used as an indicator of high content of K element in the soil.