Abstract: Soil water characteristic model, holding water parameter, and specific water capacit y on three farming-withdrawn lands(6, 11, and 16 years) and four enclosed grasslands(Thymus mongolicus, Artemisia gmelini, Stipa gra is and Sti bungeana communities) are studied by cont rasting wit h slope plantation in a typical grassland on the Loess Plateau.Results show that soil holding and supplying water capabilities in enclosed grassla nds are better than farming-wit hdrawn lands and the cultivated sloping land, but grazing on the 11 year grassland has a significant eff ect on the capacities.The t rea tments, in terms of soil holding water capabili t y, rank in the descendant order of Stiρa bungeana, Stipa grand is, Thymus mongolicus, Artemisia gmeli 巾,16 yea r withdrawing, 6 year withdrawing, cultivated sloping land, and 11 year withd rawing(grazing for 8 years) and in terms of supplying water capa bility, Stiρa bungeana, Thymus mongolicus, Artemisia gmel in, Stipa grand is, 16 year withdrawing, 6 year withdrawing, and 11 yea r withdrawing(grazing for 8 years), and cultivated sloping land.Farming-wit hdrawn land and enclosed grassland can improve soil holding and supplying water capability by promoting soil water physical properties.