To quantify the relation of salt accumulation in the topsoil of deserted land with groundwater in areas with shallow groundwater table in Kashi, Xinjiang, in-situ monitoring was performed of soil water content, salt content in the topsoil, depth and mineralization of groundwater and phreatic evaporation in the experimental area under natural conditions; simulation was done of the relationship between phreatic evaporation and groundwater table; quantitative analysis was conducted of the effect of groundwater table and mineralization on salinity of the topsoil; and in the end an empirical model was established for relationships of salt content in the topsoil with water table and mineralization of the groundwater. Results show that within the 5~50 cm soil layer, soil water content (SWC) increases with depth;. the effects of water table and mineralization of the groundwater are significant on salinity of the topsoil; and soil salt content is in a positive linear relationship with mineralization of the groundwater when groundwater table is a const, but in a negative linear one with groundwater table when mineralization of the groundwater is a const. The phenomenon of surface accumulation of soil salts indicates that soil salt content increases with increasing cumulative phreatic evaporation regardless of groundwater table and salt accumulation rate in the topsoil decreases with increasing depth of the groundwater table. The salt accumulation rate in the topsoil of a deserted land with groundwater table deep at 25 cm is twice as high as that with groundwater table deep at 50 cm. The findings of the study could serve as scientific basis for amelioration of salt-affected soils and prevention of soil secondary salinization.