Abstract:Soil samples under different land use types and at different slope pos itions in the Wangdonggou watershed of loess tableland area were collected to determine their particle composition, bulk density (ρb), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and the effects of land use type and slope position on the soil physical properties were studied in virtue of the variation coefficient and nonparameter tests. The results showed that the physical properties of soil varied in horizontal direction and vertical profile, however at the same sl ope position or under the same land use type, the ρb and particle composition were similar. In horizontal direction, Ks varied strongly, slit content and ρb v aried weakly, and clay and sand contents varied medially. In vertical profile, s oil particles had a continuous distribution, but ρband Ks varied greatly in 0 -25 cm layer. With the slope degree descended, soil contained more clay and had a higher ρb, and Ks increased. At upper and middle slopes, so il physical properties were similar, and thus, could be merged into one in relat ed researches. There was a significant difference in soil physical properties be tween grassland and other land use types, which was mainly due to the effects of slope position, but the soil physical properties in farmland and orchard were similar, indicating the important effects of human activities.