Haloxylon ammodendron (C.A. Mey) Bunge (Chenopodiaceae) is a shrub occurring on desert sand dunes in China. Seedling emergence and seedling survival were investigated by sowing seeds at different depths (0, 2.5, 5.0 or 10 mm) in fine or coarse sand in pots irrigated under different regimes. Seed burial in sand was required for seedling establishment of this species. Seedling emergence depended greatly on seed burial depth, sand type, and irrigation regime; this appeared to be due to (1) seeds or seedlings suffering from oxygen or moisture deficiency depending on the air : moisture ratio in sand, and/or (2) higher moisture content in sand resulting in hardening of the sand and obstruction of seedling growth. Increased irrigation resulted in longer survival of emerging seedlings because sand was moistened more deeply, and moisture in deeper sand persisted longer. The results suggest that the infrequent and light precipitation common in desert environments is likely to cause germination of many of the buried seeds, but is insufficient for emerging seedlings to survive. It is suggested that water from melting snow in early spring is crucial in enabling seedling establishment of this species in the deserts of China.