Abstract: The experiments (including pot and field's) were conducted using different water retention materials as soil conditioners to study the effect on growth of ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and to evaluate the effectiveness and methods of conditioner applicatin under dry and saline soil conditions. The results showed that using water retention materials alleviated the damage by salinity under dry soil conditions, and increased seedling emergence by over 75% compared with the check. The seeds coated with water retention materials had 19% more seedling emergence than the uncoated seeds; the soil moisture contents with the coated treatments were 5%-11% higher at the seedling stage, but water consumption with the coated seeds was 5%-12% lower than the uncoated. A good effectiveness in increasing seedling emergence with water retention materials was found in dry soil conditions, for instance, the seedling emergence increased by 11%-14% and 14%-24%, respectively, in the treated soils at 40% and 20% of the field water holding capacity (FC), the top 20cm soil moisture content increased by 4%-15% as compared with the check. The dry biomass of the seedling with conditioners at 40% of the FC increased by 3%-42%, but the unit water consumption decreased by 9%-34%, the similar effects were also found in the treated soils at 20% of the FC.