Abstract: The observed data of plant communities in 1984 and 2001 at 28 plots, and those of soils in 2001 at corresponding 24 plost of sandy grassland in Duolun County were analyzed by TWINSPAN (Two-way Indicator Species Analysis), DCA (Detrended Correspondence Analysis) and CCA (Canonical Correspondence Analysis). The results showed that according to the succession series in degradation, desertification or restoration, five vegetation types in the study area were classified. The succession series of plant communities was spatially similar both in 1984 and in 2001, furthermore, was also distinguished when the temporal dynamics was analyzed among 17 years. The grassland was degraded obviously at present days than in 1984. The succession of degradation, desertification or restoration of grassland plant communities showed some relationships with the changes of soil properties, while the changes of plant community were not coincident with those of soil properties when the temporal dynamics was taken into account. Soil texture, nutrients and organic matter changed slowly, compared with the changes of plant community.

Key words: Soil, Preferential flow, Solute migration