[Objective] Soil water characteristics of different plant communities at different slope positions on aerial-seeded afforestation areas in 1992 were studied at the northeastern edge of the Tengger Desert in order to provide a theoretical basis for the rational construction and management of an artificial sand fixation vegetation system in the arid desert areas of Northwest China. [Methods] Soil water contents at the depth of 200 cm for different plant communities at different slope positions were measured using the ring knife method. The water distribution, variability and water storage deficit of soilwere analyzed. [Results] ① The average soil water contents of different plant communities followed the order of Hedysarum scoparium community (0.57%) >Calligonum mongolicum community (0.54%) > H. scoparium+C. mongolicum community (0.51%) > C. mongolicum+H. scoparium community (0.51%). There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the H. scoparium and the H. scoparium+C. mongolicum communities, as well as the C. mongolicum+H. scoparium community. The average soil water contents at different slope positions followed the order of bottom slope > middle slope > top slope. The vertical variability of soil water in the two combined communities of H. scoparium and C. mongolicum, and its variability with slope position were significantly smaller than the vertical variability of soil water in the H. scoparium and C. mongolicum communities. ② The variation range of total soil water storage in different plant communities was between 15.45 mm and 17.79 mm, and the trend of soil water storage with soil depth was consistent with soil water content. ③ Soil water storage deficits for the different plant communities followed the order of H. scoparium+C. mongolicum community (97.74%) > C. mongolicum+H. scoparium community (97.62%) > H. scoparium community (97.48%) > C. mongolicum community (97.44%). [Conclusion] Soil water content was relatively low (less than 1%). Soil water content at the bottom of the sand dune was greater than at the middle slope and top slope positions, and soil water content increased with soil depth. The vertical variability of soil water content in the H. scoparium and C. mongolicum combined communities was lower than the soil water content of the single species communities. Therefore, a plant community comprised of a combination of H. scoparium and C. mongolicum can utilize soil water to a greater extent, has greater water absorption, and uses soil water more efficiently. These combination plant communities are better adapted to arid environments.