Abstract: A field study was conducted to investigate rainfall interception and rainfall redistribution by salix psammophila,which is a typical sand-fixat ion plant in Maowusu sandland,Northwest China During the experimental period,from May 23 to Oct 23,2006,there were 21 rainfall events,and the cumulative gross rainfall was 136.5mm The amount of throughfall (TF),stemflow (SF),and canopy interception (IC) was 98.5 mm (72.2%),4.0 mm (2.9%),and 34.0 mm (24.9%),respectively.The statistical analysis shows that there is a significant positive linear correlation between rainfall and TF,SF and IC,respectively (significant level p < 0.0001).The relat ionship between rainfall and the proportion of TF,as well as the pro portion of IC could be matched well by a hyperbola function (signif icant level p < 0 05).Moreover,IC and TF increase with rise of the maximum rain intensity in 10 minutes (I₁₀).