Abstract: Using Grape and Chinese date trees as the test plants in Hami, Xinjiang, one of the most arid area in China, to study the effects of application rate, method of water retaining agent(WRA) on survival ratio of transplanting, growth and sugar content of fruit as well as water content in soil. The Economic benefits of WRA application were also analyzed. The results showed that the effect of application method of mixing WRA with soil was better than that of mixing gel fully absorbing water with soil. Using SAP could obviously enhance soil water holding capacity, soil water content doubled compared with that of the control under severe drought condition. For newly transplanted trees, 10~30g per plant was the suitable rate, which could increased survival ratio of transplanting by 20% and promote the tip growth; while for bearing-grape trees, 100g~200g per plant was the suitable rate. When the application rate was 100g and 200g per plant, rape yield increased by 12.59% and 25.29%, respectively; sugar content increased by 9.92% and 6.01%, respectively; the profit increased by 2812.5RMB and 5625.0RMB per hectare, respectively. However, when the application rate was 100g and 200g per plant at fruit-swelling stage under drought stress with 75% of normal irrigation rate, rape yield increased by 38.46% and 66.62%, respectively; sugar content increased by 0.78%; the profit increased by 9967.5RMB and 16605.0RMB per hectare, respectively.