Soil pollution significantly reduces environmental quality.In this study,farmland soil samples were collected from 25 sites in Baghrash County,Northwest China;and the concentrations of eight heavy-metal elements(arsenic,As;cadmium,Cd;chromium,Cr;copper,Cu;manganese,Mn;nickel,Ni;lead,Pb;zinc,Zn)were determined by standard methods.The spatial distribution,contamination level,and ecological risk stature of heavy metals were analyzed based on GIS technology,the Geo-accumulation Index(Igeo),the Pollution Load Index(PLI),and the Potential Ecological Risk Index(RI).Results indicated that(1)The average concentrations of Cd exceeded 12.12 times the allowed national standard for soil environmental quality of China.The average concentrations of Cd,Cr,Ni,Pb,and Zn exceeded the background values of irrigation soils in Xinjiang by 60.58,1.25,1.50,4.95,and 5.10 times,respectively.(2)The pollution order of the average value of Igeo for heavy metals was ranked as Cd>Zn>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cu>As>Mn.The individual potential ecological risk index for heavy metals was ranked in the order of Cd>As>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Zn.The average PLI for the study area showed a heavy pollution level,while the average RI showed a considerable ecological risk stature,as compared to the classification standard.(3)The spatial distribution patterns of eight heavy metal elements were substantially heterogeneous.The moderately polluted areas with moderate potential ecological risks were distributed in the southern parts of the study area,whereas the heavily polluted areas with considerable potential ecological risks were distributed in the northern parts.Overall,it was observed that Cd contributed most to the PLI and RI of the farmland soils in Baghrash County.The pollution risk of Cd should be a major concern,and human activities in the region should be cautious. Soil pollution significantly reduces environmental quality. In this study, farmland soil samples were collected from 25 sites in Baghrash County, Northwest China; and the concentrations of eight heavy-metal elements (arsenic, As; cadmium, Cd; chromium, Cr; Cu, manganese, Mn; nickel, Ni; lead, Pb; zinc, Zn) were determined by standard methods. The spatial distribution, contamination level, and ecological risk stature of heavy metals were analyzed based on GIS technology, the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), the Pollution Load Index (PLI), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI) .Results indicated that (1) The average concentrations of Cd exceeded 12.12 times the allowed national standard for soil environmental quality of China.The average concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn exceeded the background values ​​of irrigation soils in Xinjiang by 60.58,1.25,1.50,4.95, and 5.10 times, respectively. (2) The pollution order of the average value of Igeo for heavy metals was ranked as Cd> Zn> Pb> Ni> Cr> Cu> As> Mn potential ecological risk index for heavy metals was ranked in the order of Cd> As> Ni> Cu> Pb> Cr> Zn.The average PLI for the study area showed a heavy pollution level, while the average RI showed a substantial ecological risk stature , as compared to the classification standard. (3) The spatial distribution patterns of eight heavy metal elements were substantially heterogeneous. moderately polluted areas with moderate potential ecological risks were distributed in the southern parts of the study area, and the heavily polluted areas with considerable potential ecological risks were distributed in the northern parts. It was observed that Cd contributed most to the PLI and RI of the farmland soils in Baghrash. The pollution risk of Cd should be a major concern, and human activities in the region. should be cautious.