Abstract: The soil of different land use including shrub land,open forest land,farmland and grassland in Zhanmadi small watershed in source area of Pearl River were investigated.The results indicated that: 1) Inside soil depth 60 cm,as the soil depth increased,the soil water content of shrub land and open forest land were decreased,the case of that on farmland and grassland was in the opposite direction.2)The content of organic matter of soil of grassland was 2.34%,that was the highest,and was 1.08,1.89 and 3.46 times as much of that in shrub land,open forest land and farmland respectively.The content of nitrogen was in the order of grassland >shrub land >open forest land >farmland,the content of phosphorus and potassium was in the order of open forest land >grass land>shrub land>farmland.3) As far as soil hydroscopic water and soil permeability were concerned,the order was shrub land > grassland > open forest land > farmland.4) The started water penetration rate and stable water penetration rate of shrub land were the highest,which were 2.06 times,1.14 times and 2.7 times as much of that in open forest land,farmland and grassland respectively.That implied among the four land use types,the soil permeability of shrub land was the best,next came farmland and open forest land,that of grassland was the lowest.5) In 0-20 cm soil layer,the maximum water-holding capacity was in the order of farmland > shrub land > open forest land > grassland;in 2040 cm soil layer,the order was open forest land > shrub land > grassland > farmland.The water yield time started by grassland at first,next came open forest land,shrub land and farmland.