Soil water content,bulk density,porosity,and organic matter on five abandoned farmlands (2,5,9,12,and 16 years) are studied by contrasting with slope farmland in Zhaigou District of Ningshan County.Results show that soil physicochemical properties on four retur ned farmlands (5,9,12,and 16 years) are better than slope farmland. Soil water content, porosity, organic matter, and bulk density are improved with rehabilitatio n time,whereas soil physicochemical properties in the 2 year returned farmland do not change obviously. Soil water content, porosity, and organic matter are reduced with increased soil depth and how ever, bulk density is on the contrary. This suggests that soil fertility, w ater retaining capacity, storage capac-ity, and ant-ierosion ability can be improved by returning farmland to forest, but it will not make significant changes in a short time