The shortage of soil water is a limited factor affecting restoration and the growth of vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas. Investigations of soil water content variations within depth of 0-60 cm in various microhabitats is therefore of great practical significance for guiding vegetation restoration. Soil samples were collected on sampling grids and soil water content were then measured via oven drying method. The results show that average soil water contents at depth of 0-60 cm was in order from high to low as semi-shade

semi-sunny

and sunny slopes. The average soil water content in 0-60 cm layer varied significantly among hilly slope

shallow gully

small gully

large gully bottom

large gully sunny or semi-sunny slope

large gully shade or semi-shade slope and valley slope on the same aspect of different types. The distribution of soil water content depended mainly on topography and vegetation growth status: the topography affected redistri-bution of precipitation and sunshine

and the vegetation determined rainfall interception and transpiration.Based on soil water content variations

the 21 microhabitat of three aspects were divided into 3 groups

with average soil water contents of 11.68%

8.68% and 5.77%

respectively.