Abstract: To explore the effects of different pretreatment on the seed germination of Nitraria tangutorum in Qaidam Basin, to improve the status of saline land in alpine wetland of Qaidam Basin and to seek the best pretreatment scheme to improve the germination index and shorten the germination period, N. tangutorum from Qaidam Basin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was used as experimental materials to investigate the effects of different treatments on germination rate, germination potential, germination index, germination cycle of N. tangutorum. The treatments included mechanical wear with freezing, strong alkali immersion with freezing, mechanical wear with cold storage, strong alkali immersion with cold storage, mechanical wear with normal temperature, strong alkali immersion with normal temperature. The results showed that the group of mechanical wear with freezing had significant effect on the germination index and germination cycle, and the germination rate, germination potential and germination index were 92.22%, 78.89% and 37.36, respectively, and the germination cycle was 9 d, which was the best pretreatment program. The three pretreatment groups including strong alkali soaking with freezing, strong alkali soaking with cold storage, mechanical wear with room temperature had significant effects on the germination index of N. tangutorum, while the group of mechanical wear with cold storage had the least effect on the germination index of N. tangutoru.