【Objective】To explore characteristics of the salinization of deserted farmlands in the Hetao Plain. 【Method】In this study soil samples were collected from the farmlands and analyzed with the classical statistics and principal component analysis methods for total salt content, pH, anion and cation composition, and distribution of alkalization degree.【Result】Results show that the abandoned farmlands in the Hetao plain were mild to severe in salinization, with soil salt content, pH and alkalization degree varying between 2.80 and 6.69 g kg^-1, 9.20 and 9.69, and 10.97% and 33.33%, respectively and distributed similarly along the soil profile, that is, accumulating in the surface and bottom. The salt content decreased with soil depth in the 0～60 cm soil layer, increased with soil depth in the 60～120 cm soil layer. The cations in the soil profile were dominated with Na⁺ and K⁺ while the anions were with SO₄²⁻. All the salinization indices, except soil pH, showed extremely strong spatial variability. Contents of SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺，Mg²⁺ and total salt varied sharply from soil layer to soil layer.The correlations of Cl^-with K⁺and Na⁺declined in significance with soil depth. Soil pH and alkalization degree were significantly correlated with the content of CO₃²⁻. Principal component analysis shows that the total salt and SO₄²⁻could be used as diagnostic factors of soil salinization; while CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻ and pH as diagnostic factors of soil alkalization in this research area, explaining 88.74% of the total variance.【Conclusion】Therefore, it is quite obvious that the deserted farmlands in the Hetao Plain are severe in salinization degree, and it is essential to lower soil salinity or alkalinity, regulate soil ion composition and improve soil structure during the soil amelioration process. It is expected that this study may provide certain theoretical basis for ameliorating and utilizing salinized soil, and improving regional ecological environment of deserted farmlands in the Hetao Plain.