[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effect of freezing and thawing on ammonium adsorption in dryland soil. [Method] The lab simulation test was conducted to study the effect of freeze-thaw action on the total adsorbed amount of ammonium （deionized water extract） and strongly-adsorbed amount of ammonium （0.01 mol/L KCl solution extract） in the dryland soil of Sanjiang Plain. [Result] Compared with linear equation, Freundlich equation could better fit the total adsorbed amount of ammonium in dryland soil （R 2 0.99, SE1.69）. The freeze-thaw action almost had no influence on the total adsorbed amount of ammonium. When the initial concentration of NH 4 ＋ increased from 0 to 200 mg/L, the total adsorbed NH 4 ＋ amount increased from -0.52 to 39.0 mg/kg under freeze-thaw treatment （FTT）, while it increased from -0.70 to 38.5 mg/kg under unfreeze-thaw treatment （UFTT）. However, the strongly-adsorbed amount of ammonium presented linear relationship with the concentration of NH 4 ＋ （R 2 0.99, SE0.54）, and the strongly-adsorbed amount of ammonium increased significantly by FTT. When the initial concentration of NH 4 ＋ increased from 0 to 200 mg/L, the strongly adsorbed amount increased linearly from 2.36 to 28.81 mg/kg for FTT and from -4.25 to 25.12 mg/kg for UFTT. The freezethaw action decreases the concentration of NH 4 ＋ in soil solution when the net strongly-adsorbed NH 4 ＋ in soil is zero., therefore, FTT helped to reduce the leaching of ammonium ions in soil. Freeze-thaw action mainly influenced the exchangeable adsorbed NH 4 ＋ in soil. [Conclusion] This study provides theoretical basis for preventing excessive soil nitrogen from entering into water body and controlling water entrophication.
