**Abstract**

Water and soil erosion and sandy desertification are two mainly land desertification types on eastern and southern Ordos Plateau, north China. *Hippophae rhamnoides*, *Armeniaca sibirica* and *Pinus tabuliformis* are three woody plants for soil and water conservation on loess slope. *Sabina vulgaris*, *Artemisia ordosica* and *Salix psammophila* are three shrubs for sand control on sand dune. Water source of six woody plants were investigated by stable isotope technology. The results showed that the δ18O of shallow soil water was similar to that of rainwater in July and September in two habitats. Both of six woody plants in two habitats mainly used shallow soil water in May. However, three shrubs on sand dune mainly used both of shallow and deep soil water in July and September. Three woody plants on loess slope mainly used rainwater or deep soil water in July and September. Therefore, six woody plants utilized different depths of soil water or rain water based on their availability in different seasons, which is an adaptive strategy to the semiarid climate on Ordos Plateau.

**Keywords:** land desertification control, rain water, soil water, stable oxygen isotope, water source
