Investigation were carried out of plants and soil in shelterbelts along highways in the Taklimakan to explore effects of irrigation with saline water on plant root system and evolution of aeolian sand soil in the belts. Results show that the roots of Tamarix go much deeper, about 200 cm into the soil, while those of Haloxylon and Calligonum about 100~150 cm; Soil salts (about 8 mS cm^-1) and nutrients accumulate significantly in the topsoil layer (crust and 0~10 cm soil layers) in shelterbelts irrigated with saline water, but in the 40~60 cm soil layer, where plant roots are densely distributed, soil salinization does not exist (<1.0 mS cm^-1) . The soil in the shelterbelt is much higher than in shifting sand soil in content of soil organic C, total N and total P, and moreover, the soil is significantly higher in content of clay, silt and soil aggregates, which are relatively higher in stability than shifting sand soil. To sum up, irrigation with saline groundwater does not bring about any salt hazard or toxicity to plants growing normally in the shelterbelts, and instead it is conducive to evaluation of desert aeolian sand soil.