［Objective］The study aimed to investigate the effects of rice straw biochar on water infiltration and evaporation characteristics in compacted soils in mining areas，and to provide a basis for resource utilization of straw waste and soil remediation in mining areas.［Methods］Indoor soil column simulation test was conducted under simulated compaction treatments of 1.2，1.3，1.4，1.5 and 1.6 g/cm³（T_1.2 - T_1.6）at four different biochar application rates（0，2%，4% and 6%）.［Results］1）Different application rates of biochar all slowed down the downward migration rate of wetting front in different compacted soils. The cumulative infiltration of soil moisture increased first and then decreased with the increase of biochar application rate. The 2% biochar treatment increased the cumulative infiltration across all compaction treatments，with T_1.2，T_1.3，T_1.5 and T_1.6 showing increases of 10.73%，2.99%，11.96% and 2.39%，respectively，compared to the no-biochar treatment（p<0.05）. When the application rate was increased to 6%，the cumulative infiltration for all compaction treatments was less than that of the 2% biochar treatment. 2）Power function Power function provided a good fit for the wetting front movement in biochar-amended compacted soils. The Horton model was the most suitable for estimating the cumulative infiltration in biochar-amended compacted soils. 3）Biochar affected both stages of the evapotranspiration process of compacted soils，significantly affecting the rapid evaporation stage（p<0.05），resulting in a reduction in total evapotranspiration. The residual water content in soils with different compaction degrees significantly（p<0.05） increased at all biochar application rates compared to soils without biochar. 4）Compaction was the main factor affecting soil water infiltration and evaporation. The F-values under the interaction of biochar and compaction were reduced compared to compaction treatments alone.［Conclusion］The application of 2% biochar is most effective in improving the moisture availability in compacted soils in mining areas. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for using biochar to improve the hydrological process and soil remediation of compacted soils in mining areas.