The Mg content of Zn1-xMgxO film grown on A-sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy is measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)and electronic probe microanalysis (EPMA). A theoretical model for analyzing the difference in the Mg content between Zn-rich and Zn-deficient conditions in the growth process is established, and the mathematical relation between Mg content and the temperature of the Mg cell is formulated under Zn-rich condition. The formula derived is proven to be correct by experiments.