Abstract: germination experiment on three typical annual plants (Halogeton glomeratus, Corispermum patelliforme and Echinopilon divaricatum) was conducted in the desertifying regions of Minqin under different temperature and light conditions. The objective of the study was to determine the germination characteristics of plant seeds in the desertifying conditions of Minqin. The results show that the three annual plants start to germinate in 1~4 days after sowing and complete germination in 2~12 days under optimum conditions. The optimum germination temperature of H. glomeratus in continuous light is 15 ℃, with a germination percentage of 96.00%±0.00%. For C. patelliforme, the optimum germination temperatures are 20 ℃ and 15 ℃/25 ℃ in continuous dark and 14 h light/10 h dark conditions, with respective germination percentages of 18.00%±2.00%, 28.00%±2.31%. In the case of E. divaricatum, the optimum germination temperatures are 20 ℃ and 15 ℃/25 ℃ under continuous dark and 14 h light/10 h dark conditions, with respective germination percentages of 96.00%±0.00% and 96.00%±2.31%.H. glomeratus and E. divaricatum can germinate under three different light conditions (continuous light, dark and 14 h dark/10 h light). C. patelliforme generally germinates under the continuous dark condition and hardly germinates under other light conditions.