Abstract:[Objective] The influence of vegetation restoration on soil physical and chemical properties of shallow fissures and soil shear strength in karst-faulted basins in Eastern Yunnan Province was explored in order to provide a scientific reference for the mitigation of soil loss and the effective control of rocky desertification in this area. [Methods] The vertical variation characteristics of soil properties and soil shear resistance in the shrub crannies of a secondary forest of Pinus yunnanensis and Myrsine africanan shrub were analyzed by field sampling, indoor wet screening of soil aggregates and soil shear test. [Results] ① Vegetation restoration could improve the physical and chemical properties of fractured soil, but there were differences with changes in soil depth. Organic matter, sand content, and water stable aggregates (>0.25 mm) in the fissured soil of two different vegetation communities decreased with increasing soil depth, while the clay content and water stable aggregates (<0.25 mm) increased with soil depth. The contents of sand particles (55.46%), organic matter (19.63 g/kg), and water stable aggregates (>0.25 mm, 76.51%) in cracked soil of a secondary forest of P. yunnanensis were more than M. africanan shrub (50.16%, 11.31 g/kg, 67.57%, respectively). The contents of silt (17.55%), clay (26.99%), and small water stable aggregates (23.49%) were more than M. africanan shrub (22.56%, 27.27%, 31.43%). ② The cohesion of fractured soil in both communities increased with the increaseing water stable aggregates (>0.25 mm) (p<0.05), and the friction angle of soil decreased with decreasing aggregates of sand, organic matter, and water stable aggregates (<0.25 mm) (p<0.05). ③ The shear strength of the fissured soil in the two communities decreased with increasing soil depth, and the secondary forest of P. yunnanensis community was better than the shrub community in improving the shear strength of the shallow fissured soil, especially in the middle and deep fissured soil. The shear strength of the secondary forest of P. yunnanensis > M. africanan shrub fissure. The difference in shear strength of the fissured soil in the two communities was very significant (p<0.01). [Conclusion] In the rocky desertification region of the fault basin in Eastern Yunnan Province, the arbor community is more helpful in improving the physical and chemical properties of the middle and deep soil, improving soil shear strength, and alleviating the loss of shallow fissured soil.