[Objective] Infiltration characteristics and its influence factors of soils under different vegetation types at Bitahai Lake basin in plateau wetland of Northwest Yunnan Province were researched to provide some scientific references for the comprehensive management and wetland protection in the basin. [Methods] The double rings method was used to measure the infiltration process of soils under 5 vegetation types. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis methods were used to process the data. [Results] (1) Infiltration capabilities of the five vegetational soils were found different obviously. Soil in coniferous forest had the best infiltration performance

the next was the soil in broad-leaves forest and the soil in the dry land was the lowest. (2) 3 different formulas were used to fit the infiltration rate against time

among of them

goodness of Kostiakov formula was the best. Initial infiltration rate and overall infiltration rate coincided on the ranks of the 5 soils. That was: coniferous forest > shrub > broadleaf forest > meadow > upland. (3) Indices of organic matter

bulk density

porosity

> 5 mm aggregates

sand clay ratio

were significantly correlated with soil infiltration. Organic matter

bulk density

> 5 mm water stable aggregates were 3 of the most important influencing factors on infiltration capacity of Bita Lake Basin. [Conclusion] Woodland performed better in the conservation of soil and water than other vegetational types. Thereby

afforestation silviculture suitable for dry land should be stressed.