Abstract: Alhagi sparsifolia is widely distributed in lowland saline meadows of Xinjiang desert region. It occurs as a dominant or an accompanying species in plant communities. In saline meadows, the floristic composition and the population character of A.sparsifolia varies with the changes in soil water and salt conditions. Under the influences of human activities, more serious changes happen upon soil water and salt conditions. As a consequence, the floristic composition of saline meadows become unstable. The population character of A. sparsifolia may be used as an indicator for succession state of plant community. This function is of significance to water and land use in that region.