Abstract: Abstract: Hedysarum scoparium and Salix psammophila have obvious effect on the fixation of mobile and semi-mobile dunes in the Mu Us Desert. In order to explore the friction characteristics between root and soil, 5-year-old Hedysarum scoparium and Salix psammophila roots were measured in the laboratory. The influences of different conditions such as species, soil moisture and vertical load were examined by using direct shear friction tests in the study. The finite element software was used to simulate the process of the laboratory experiments. The results showed that the cohesion stress of the root-soil interface of Hedysarum scoparium and Salix psammophila had a significant difference (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between Hedysarum scoparium root-soil interface and soil-soil interface (P > 0.05). The cohesion stress of the root-soil interface of Salix psammophila and soil-soil interface had a significant difference (P < 0.05). The cohesion stress of the root-soil interface of Hedysarum scoparium ((1.51±0.65) kPa) was higher than that of Salix psammophila ((-0.92±0.50) kPa), and the cohesion stress of soil-soil interface ((3.22±0.55)kPa) was also higher than that of Salix psammophila. The friction angle of the root-soil interface of Hedysarum scoparium had a significant difference with Salix psammophila (P < 0.05) and it also had a significant difference with soil-soil interface (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between Salix psammophila root-soil interface and soil-soil interface (P > 0.05). The friction angle of the root-soil interface of Hedysarum scoparium ((31.00±0.14)°) was higher than that of soil-soil interface ((30.30±0.25)°) and Salix psammophila((30.20±0.17)°). There was a significant difference between the cohesion stress and the friction angle of the root soil interface (P < 0.05) under 2% (dry season) and 22% (rainy season) soil moisture. However, there was no significant difference under 7%-17% soil moisture (P > 0.05). The cohesion stress of 2% soil moisture ((0.0021±0.34) kPa) was lower than that of 22% soil moisture ((3.16±0.57) kPa). The friction angle of 2% soil moisture ((29.80±0.38)°) was lower than that of 22% soil moisture ((30.92±0.59)°). The relationship between vertical load and shear strength of the root-soil interface obeyed the Mohr-Coulomb theory and the constitutive relation was hyperbola. The maximum relative error of the shear strength simulated by the finite element software was 9.54%. The results of the study indicated that the improvement of shear strength of the root-soil composite was not related to the cohesion stress but related to the friction angle. The shear strength of the root-soil interface of Hedysarum scoparium was stronger than that of soil-soil interface and Salix psammophila (P < 0.01). The change of soil moisture had a similar influence on the cohesion stress and the friction angle of the root-soil interface. The capacity of improving shear strength of soil by root reinforcement was significantly affected by the dry and rainy season (P < 0.05). The process of the direct shear friction tests of root-soil and soil-soil interface could be simulated by the finite element model established in the study. The simulation results were consistent with the laboratory tests. The results of this research can serve as a basis for the further studies on the friction characteristics of root-soil interface and root reinforcement. This study also can provide a reference for the selection of windbreak and sand-fixation tree species.