Abstract: We took biomass survey samples on herbaceous plants along the southern margin Gurbantünggüt desert to study the biomass allocation features of herbaceous plants of different life-forms in Gurbantünggüt Desert. Results showed that:(1) most of the total biomass of the sampled 34 species of herbaceous plants was less than 4 g, most of whose above-ground biomass(AGB) and below-ground biomass(BGB) was less than 2 and 0.5 g, respectively, and their root-shoot ratios(R/S) were less than 0.25; (2) Ephemeroids allocated more biomass to below ground parts and had a higher R/S, which distributed around 1.67 intensively; Ephemerals and annuals allocated much less biomass to belowground parts, both of which has smaller R/S around 0.15; (3)The growth speed of the biomass of up-ground and below-ground parts of ephemeral parts was equal, but that of the ephemeroids was unequal. The proportion of the ephemeroids biomass allocated to the below-ground parts was increased complying with the individual's enlargement, while annuals biomass was on contrast. Therefore, the biomass of up-ground and below-ground parts of ephemeral, ephemeroids and annuals has different allocation features, which is consistent with the special plant life story features.

Key words: Gurbantünggüt Desert, herbaceous plants, life-form, biomass allocation