[Objective] To clarify the effects of meteorological factors on soil moisture in different hydrological years and temporal scales, in order to provide a scientific basis for integrated management of soil and water resources under the background of climate change. [Methods] The apricot plantation in the semi-arid loess hilly region of southern Ningxia was taken as the research object. In the growing season from 2018 to 2023, soil moisture characteristics of the 0-100 cm soil layer were continuously monitored by the soil moisture sensor. The response characteristics of soil moisture to meteorological factors such as precipitation, temperature, solar radiation and relative humidity were analyzed. [Results] The average precipitation in the growing season in wet years, normal years, and dry years was 597.7, 428.5 and 298.1 mm, respectively. The volumetric soil moisture of the 0-100 cm soil layer in the growing season was 19.69%, 16.67% and 11.88%, respectively. The monthly variation of soil moisture increased first and then decreased in wet years, and decreased first and then increased in normal years and dry years. The diurnal variation of soil moisture was wavy, ’u’ type and ’w’ type in wet years, normal years and dry years, respectively. The seasonal variation pattern of soil moisture in different hydrological years all showed a relatively stable period from April to May, and a frequent fluctuation period from June to October. In general, from wet years to dry years, for the vertical spatial pattern of soil moisture, the depth of the rapidly changing layer gradually increased, the active layer increased first and then decreased, the sub-active layer gradually decreased, and the relatively stable layer gradually appeared. From wet years to the dry years the correlation between soil moisture and temperature gradually increased, the correlation between soil moisture and solar radiation and potential evapotranspiration increased first and then decreased, while the correlation between soil moisture and relative humidity changed from positive to negative, and the correlation between soil moisture and saturation vapor pressure deficit gradually weakened. The interpretation rates of meteorological factors on soil moisture changes gradually increased, which were 29.2%, 44.8% and 61.5%, respectively. At the daily, monthly, and growing season scales, the effect of precipitation on soil moisture changes gradually increased, the meteorological factors entered by stepwise regression analysis gradually decreased, and the interpretation rate of soil moisture changes gradually increased. [Conclusion] Soil moisture dynamics and the influencing factors vary with different hydrological years, time scales, as well as soil layers. Soil moisture decreases significantly in dry years. For restoration and management of plantations in the future, the drought resistance characteristics and adaptability to environmental factors of tree species should be taken into account.