Three typical water conservation forests in Jinyun Mountains were taken as research objects.Soilphysical and chemical properties and soil nutrient characteristics were measured and analyzed.Results showthat:(1)The soil densities of the three forests were all great and the soil bulk density for bamboo forest wasgreater than those for other two forests.The total soil porosity for the three forests was relatively low andthe porous of soil was in moderate level.For the soil texture

the sand content was higher than silt and claycontents.Soils in the forests were in strong acidity

which means that the soil acidification in the area issevere.(2)The soil organic matter content was relatively low and the accumulation of soil organic matterwas better in mixed needle-broadleaf forest and poorer in bamboo forest.For the soil nutrients

the contentof total nitrogen was moderate

the contents of total phosphorus and total potassium were lower

and the soilavailable nutrients were relatively low.(3)Soil conservation function of mixed needle-broadleaf forest wasthe best and the bamboo forest

the worst.Soil ecological function was the best for mixed needle-broadleafforest

followed by mixed broadleaf forests

and the worst for bamboo forest.