Soil permeability and water holding capacity are important soil hydraulic properties, which are also the basis of some hydrological functions, such as runoff regulation, and soil and water conservation. Four sampling locations in the head region of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area were selected to collect the soil samples, which contained the brown soil covered with subalpine temperate coniferous forest (BF), the yellow brown soil covered with deciduous coniferous broadleaved mixed shrubs (YBF), the yellow brown soil covered with tea tree (YBT), and the yellow soil covered with lowmountain warm coniferous forest (YF).Soil saturated hydraulic conductivities (Ks), soil water retention curves and physiochemical properties of these soil samples were analyzed in the lab, and the soil hydrological parameters of soil infiltration, water holding and water storage were quantified. Furthermore, the relationships between the hydrological parameters and soil physiochemical properties were analyzed. The results indicated that Ks ranged from 0.06 to 14.78 mm/min for all the soil samples. The highest Ks was observed from BF and YBF (i.e., 7.15～14.78 mm/min), followed by YF (1.39 mm/min), and YBT (1.17 mm/min).Significant differences of the saturated soil water content, capillary water content and field water capacity were observed among the four sampling locations, but little difference of wilting water content was identified. The soil properties of different horizons for the same soil profile was evaluated. With increasing soil depth, the saturated water content decreased, whereas the capillary water content and field capacity increased. Significant differences of the total water capacity were identified among the four sampling locations, and the total water capacity increased as the altitude increased. Correlation analysis between soil water parameters and soil properties indicated a significantly positive correlation between Ks and soil total porosity, and a significantly negative correlation between Ks and soil bulk density. There were significantly positive correlations between the saturated water content/capillary water content/field water capacity and total porosity/clay content, but significantly negative correlations with the soil bulk density. In addition, a significantly positive correlation was observed between the saturated water content and root density, whereas significantly negative correlations between capillary water content/field water capacity and the sand content were identified. Compared to YBT and YF, BF and YBF were characterized by higher infiltration rate and water holding capacity, behaving the better soil hydrological functions of runoff regulation and water conservation.

Key words：mountain soils; soil porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; water holding capacity; Three Gorges Reservoir Area