The soil physical characteristics of five main vegetation types in Daqing Mountains were studied. Results indicated that in 0-100 cm soil layer

gravel content (particle fraction ≥1 mm) and soil bulk density increased with the increase in soil depth; and soil total porosity

field capacity

and maximum moisture capacity decreased with the increase in soil depth. Besides the mixed forest of Quercus liaotungensis and Ostryopsis davidiana

gravel content and soil bulk density in arbor forest were less than those in shrub land. Soil total porosity

field capacity

and maximum moisture capacity in arbor forest were higher than those in the shrub land. The order of vegetation types

in terms of the average sat urated soil hydraulic conductivity

was: Ost ryopsis davi diana shrubs> Populus davidiana natural forest > Beula platyphylla natural forest> Pinus tabulaeformis plantation > mixed forest of Quercus liaotungensis and Ostry opsis davidiana. The maximum water storage in 0-60 cm soil layer in Popul us davidiana natural forest was the highest among the five vegetation types and its value reached 3550.36t hm2. The mixed forest of Quercus l iaot ungensisand Ostryopsis davidiana and Ostryopsis davidiana shrubs had the lower values of 2319.85 and 2271.87 t/hm2

respectively.