Soil water content in artificial Pinus tabulaeformis forestland, native grassland and farmland in the loess region of western Shanxi province were observe and studied to define the effects of different land use types on soil moisture. The water content in 0—10 m soil layer was measured by soil core method from April to October in 2019 and 2020. The results showed that: (1) The soil water storage of the 0—10 m soil profile in artificial P. tabulaeformis forestland was 1 281.13 mm, 1 712.85 mm in native grassland, and 1 804.77 mm in farmland. P. tabulaeformis forest land consumed 431.72 mm and 523.64 mm water more than wasteland and agricultural land, respectively, and the more consumed soil water mainly came from deep soil. (2) The vertical change of water content in 0—10 m soil layer of three land use types could be divided vertically into three layers, including severe-changing layer, weak changing layer and relatively stable layer, and the change of water content in each layer with time was also different. (3) The depth of root water absorption was 5.4 m for P. tabulaeformis, 4.2 m for crops. The influence of depth was 10 m for P. tabulaeformis, 8 m for crops. Crops could be planted on flat and accessible sites in the study area to promote the local agricultural economy. In view of the low soil water content in P. tabulaeformis forest land, appropriate water management measures could be used to reduce stand water depletion in P. tabulaeformis forestland.