Based on determination of soil water retention curves and field moisture capacity of intact soil sam-ples of Loess and Paleosols in Luochuan County, Shaanxi Province, the study analyzed the physical soil prop-erties including soil moisture storage, holding capacity and effective moisture content. The results indicate that the water retention curves of soil samples could be described well with Van Genuchten model with the high R2 values(over 0.99). The water holding capacity of the loess samples were higher than that of the Pal-eosol samples in the range of 0 to 30 kPa, suggesting that loess performs better in water supply and storage. With increasing suction values, water supply and storage reduced with larger amplitude in low suction range and smaller amplitude in high suction range. Loess showed higher available water content, saturated water content and field holding capacity, and lower permanent wilting point than paleosol.