[Objective] To explore the physicochemical characteristics of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils under different typical types of vegetation in purple soil hilly region of central Hunan Province, and to provide theoretical basis for ecological restoration.[Methods] The physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils from grass(G), grass-shrub(GS), shrub(S) and arbor-shrub(AS) were obtained by sampling and experimental analysis to reveal the coupling relationships with regard to the indexes of physical and chemical properties of between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils.[Results] The contents of fine sand(0.25~0.05 mm) in G and S rhizosphere soils were 76.97% and 63.84% lower that of AS (p<0.05). Whereas, the silt contents were 38.48% and 37.66% higher. The content of 0.25~0.05 mm microaggregate in the AS rhizosphere soil was higher than those of others and the 0.02~0.002 mm microaggregate content of S rhizosphere soil was the highest. The organic matter contents of GS and S in non-rhizosphere soil, were 148.05% and 121.92% (p<0.05) lower than the corresponding ones in rhizosphere soil. Organic matter contents in S and GS rhizosphere soils were 84.28% and 92.08% (p<0.05) higher that of AS. The total nitrogen content in GS rhizosphere soil was 83.33% higher than that in non-rhizosphere soil. The available nitrogen in GS rhizosphere soil was 200.83% higher (p<0.05) than that of AS. Either in rhizosphere soil or in non-rhizosphere soil, phosphorous contents had no significant differences among all types of vegetation. For the same type of vegetation, soil total phosphorous content in rhizosphere soil was lower than that in non-rhizosphere. Soil available phosphorous content in AS was the lowest. In comparison with the ones of G and GS, the available potassium content in AS rhizosphere soil was 125.15% and 137.71% lower(p<0.05). There were closed relationships among the three groups of soil physicochemical indices, referring to the group of soil organic matter and total nutrient content, the group of 2~1 mm, 1~0.5 mm, 0.25~0.05 mm particles and the group of 2~1 mm,1~0.5 mm aggregates.[Conclusion] The coupled relations among soil nutrient, soil particle and soil aggregates should be applied to improve soil physicochemical properties and accelerate the ecosystem restoration in hilly region of central Hunan Province.