The influences of various factors on the preparation of chitosan—sodium acrylate superabsorbent were discussed,including the mass ratio of reactants, irradiation dose,irradiation dose rate and the concentration of N,N'—Methylene — bis — acrylamide ,et al., The water absorption and the water retention of the resin were measured. The results showed that the appropriate conditions should be controlled as follows: the mass ratio of acrylic acid to chitosan ≈6: 1,the degree of neutralization≈75%,the mass fraction of N,N'—Methylene—bis—acrylamide≈0.3%—0.5%, the irradiation dose dose≈90 Gy•min,-1, and the irradiation dose≈15kGy. The distilled water absorption of the resin was about 400mL•g,-1, the tap water absorption of the resin was about 150mL•g,-1, and the NaCl (0.9%) absorption of the resin was about 50mL•g,-1,. The speed of water absorption was rapid and the water retention under pressure was good.