摘要：The physical and chemical characteristics of soil and water sources affect desert plants’ growth, which is essential for the ecological protection in arid areas. The typical patch patterns of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> in the oasis-desert ecotone in the southern margin of the Manas River Basin consists of bare patches (BP) and vegetation patches (VP). The water sources of <i>H. ammodendron</i> were studied using stable isotope technology, and the soil physical and chemical properties were monitored and analyzed. The results showed that the soil moisture presented a reversed “S” type curve, and the total salt content of the soil presented an “S” type curve. A “wet island” and “cold island” were formed in the low salt area with <i>H. ammodendron</i> at the center. NaCl was most abundant in the BP soil, and the milligram equivalent of Cl<sup>−</sup> was 80–90%, while CaSO<sub>4</sub> was most abundant in the VP soil, in which the milligram equivalent of SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> was 80–100%. Before the rain, <i>H. ammodendron</i> mainly relied on the soil water from a deeper layer (≥60 cm) to maintain its growth. However, after the rain, <i>H. ammodendron</i> mainly relied on shallow soil water (<60 cm) to maintain its growth.
