Abstract: Soil water characteristic model

holding water parameter

and specific water capacit y on three farming-withdrawn lands(6

11

and 16 years) and four enclosed grasslands(Thymus mongolicus

Artemisia gmelini

Stipa gra is and Sti bungeana communities) are studied by cont rasting wit h slope plantation in a typical grassland on the Loess Plateau.Results show that soil holding and supplying water capabilities in enclosed grassla nds are better than farming-wit hdrawn lands and the cultivated sloping land

but grazing on the 11 year grassland has a significant eff ect on the capacities.The t rea tments

in terms of soil holding water capabili t y

rank in the descendant order of Stiρa bungeana

Stipa grand is

Thymus mongolicus

Artemisia gmeli 巾

16 yea r withdrawing

6 year withdrawing

cultivated sloping land

and 11 year withd rawing(grazing for 8 years) and in terms of supplying water capa bility

Stiρa bungeana

Thymus mongolicus

Artemisia gmel in

Stipa grand is

16 year withdrawing

6 year withdrawing

and 11 yea r withdrawing(grazing for 8 years)

and cultivated sloping land.Farming-wit hdrawn land and enclosed grassland can improve soil holding and supplying water capability by promoting soil water physical properties.