[Objective] Soil property is one of the important factors that influence the tillage erosion intensity. Revealing soil erosion susceptibility by tillage operations under different soil conditions was expected to provide basis for the adoption of appropriate tillage measures on steep land. [Methods] Magnetic tracer was used to measure the soil translocation and soil flux under up and down slope tillage and contour tillage by rotary cultivator. The effect of variations in soil properties on net soil displacement and the associated tillage erosion was investigated for the two tillage practices in purple soil under two different soil conditions is consolidated soil(conventional tillage about half a year ago) and loosened soil(consecutive tillage for 20 times tillage operations). Seven soil physical, chemical and mechanical properties were selected as indices, including soil bulk density, soil water content, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil shear strength and soil compactness. [Results] The results showed that net soil displacement distance and soil flux were not only influenced by slope gradient but also by soil properties irrespective of tillage practices. Soil mechanical and physical properties had significant impacts on tillage erosion. For the up and down slope tillage, net soil translocation rate was significantly positively correlated with the indices of soil shear strength, soil compactness, and soil bulk density. For the contour tillage, net soil translocation rate was significantly positively correlated with the indices of soil shear strength, soil compactness, soil bulk density and soil water content. No significant correlations were found between net soil translocation rate and soil chemical properties index for the two practices. [Conclusion] It is suggested that soil shear strength, soil compactness and soil bulk density could be taken as indicators in evaluating soil erodibility for tillage erosion.