The uptake selectivity, transport and compartmentation of ions in wheat and sugar beet irrigated with brackish water were studied under field conditions.S_K,Na (K/Na selectivity) increased gradually in the stem, sheath, leaf and husk of wheat but decreased gradually in the roots and seed of wheat and in the roots and leaves of sugar beet with increasing NaCl content in irrigation water.S_Cl,Na (Cl/Na selectivity) was reduced in the all parts of wheat and sugar beet with increasing NaCl content of irrigation water.S_K,Na and S_Cl,Na in the aerial parts were higher than those in the root of wheat but lower than or equal to those in the root of sugar beet.These results indicated that ion transport from root to aerial parts of wheat was much different from that of sugar beet.The selective uptake and transport of ions by wheat and sugar beet made Na and Cl distribute mainly in the parts, i.e., the stem and sheath of wheat and the dead leaves of sugar beet, which have little effect on their growth and yields.