Abstract:This study investigated soil and water conservation effect of different revegetation patterns in sandy-hilly region of northern Shanxi Province. The characteristics of soil water content, physical and chemical properties, runoff volume and soil erosion of four revegetation patterns plots which have been grown for about twenty years at sunny slope in Jiajiayao watershed in Youyu County, were analyzed. Those revegetation patterns included naturally colonized herbaceous plants, Pinus tabuliformis plantation, Caragana korshinskii plantation, and Pinus tabuliformis-Caragana korshinskii plantation. The results showed that:(1) There was no significant difference in soil water content in 0-100 cm depth. Soil bulk density of naturally colonized herbaceous plants and Pinus tabuliformis plantation were higher than those of Pinus tabuliformis-Caragana korshinskii plantation and Caragana korshinskii plantation, while the trends of soil total porosity were opposite to those of bulk density. (2) There were no significant differences in soil granularity distribution, pH, organic matter, ammonium nitrogen and available phosphorus in 0-20 cm depth of the four revegetation patterns, while the differences of nitrate nitrogen and available potassium were significant (P<0.05). (3) Revegetation patterns had significant differences on soil erosion,but no effects on runoff (P<0.05). The soil erosion of naturally colonized herbaceous plants and Pinus tabuliformis plantation were significantly higher than those of Caragana korshinskii plantation and Pinus tabuliformis-Caragana korshinskii plantation (P<0.05). (4) If coverage was similar, root density, near surface vegetation coverage and leaf litter thickness were the main factors affecting soil and water conservation effect of forest-grass vegetation.