Abstract: The quantitative relations of vegetation with topography, groundwater depth and total dissolved solid(TDS) in Yili River Valley are examined using RS and GIS technologies based on Landsat 8 OLI data and field investigation achievements. Results reveal that: (1) Vegetation growth gradually worsens in the order from swamp plain, alluvial and fluvial fine soil plain, gently sloping gravel fine soil plain, loess hills, aeolian dune to strongly inclined gravel plain area. (2) Vegetation growth at the elevation around 750 m and 2 800 m is sound. (3) When TDS in groundwater is higher than 1 000 mg/L, vegetation growth is negatively correlated with groundwater salinity, with the coefficient of correlation up to 0.733 5. (4) Under small disturbance of human activities, the relationship of groundwater depth(within 0-4.3 m) and vegetation growth was quadratic,with the coefficient of correlation reaching 0.764 8. Groundwater depth within the range of 1.2-4.3 m is favorable for vegetation growth; in particular, when groundwater is around 2.8 m, vegetation growth is the best

Key words: vegetation, topography, groundwater depth, TDS, Yili River Valley