【Objective】 Atriplex canescens is a high-quality xerophytic shrub widely introduced in desertification control areas. Stubble is its main tending management measure. Revealing the adaptability and compensatory growth mechanism in the recovery process after stubble can provide theoretical support for the development of Atriplex canescens into high-quality feed in desert areas. 【Method】 In this experiment, 5-year-old Atriplex canescens plants were used as the research object. Through the stubble treatment, the plant height, crown width, photosynthetic reaction, leaf water potential, leaf hydraulic conductivity and water use efficiency were measured during the recovery process of Atriplex canescens, and the relationship between functional traits was discussed. 【Results】 ( 1 ) The plant height, crown width and aboveground biomass of A.canescens after stumping could recover to the pre-stubble state after a growing season. ( 2 ) The leaf water potential, leaf hydraulic conductivity, water use efficiency and photosynthetic parameters of the stubble plants were higher than those of the control plants. ( 3 ) Linear fitting analysis showed that the midday leaf water potential and stomatal conductance of the stubble plants were significantly positively correlated with the growth rate. 【Conclusion】 Atriplex canescens has good compensatory growth ability after stumping. In the early stage of recovery growth, the flat stubble plants showed higher compensatory growth ability and typical acquisition strategy, and then turned to conservative strategy with the decrease of hydraulic condition in the later stage. Stubble plants will allocate more biomass and resources to the growth of aboveground tissues such as branches and leaves, and the later resource allocation will turn to promote the growth of underground parts.