[Objective] The dynamic characteristics of soil moisture under different land preparation measures were analyzed in order to provide a scientific basis for assessing the eco-hydrological benefits of slope land preparations and for promoting vegetation restoration in arid areas. [Methods] We used an in-situ controlled study of natural slopes, fish-scale pits, and reverse slopes of a Pinus tabulaeformis forest in a semi-arid loess area along with dynamic monitoring of soil moisture and rainfall events and HYDRUS-1D software simulations to quantify the effects of different land preparation measures on the vertical migration characteristics of soil moisture. [Results] ① The simulation accuracy of the one-dimensional unsaturated soil moisture transport numerical model for soil moisture in the 0—40 cm layer was greater than that of the 40—100 cm layer, which was suitable for the simulation of surface (0—40 cm) soil moisture. During the entire study period, under the same rainfall conditions, the soil moisture fluxes of the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces were significantly higher than the soil moisture flux of the corresponding natural slope (p＜0.05). The soil moisture flux of the fish-scale pits was significantly higher than that of the reverse slope terraces (p＜0.05). ② Under individual rainfall conditions, the soil moisture fluxes of the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces for the 0—40 cm layer were 9.07% and 4.02%, respectively, higher than that of corresponding natural slope plots. The average differences between the fish-scale pits, the reverse slope terraces, and the corresponding natural slope sample plots were the largest at 20 and 30 cm, which were 0.79% and 0.37%, respectively, exhibiting an overall trend of first increasing and then decreasing. When the rainfall was 5—10 mm, the maximum soil moisture fluxes of the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces were 1.94% and 1.42%, respectively, at 30 cm and 40 cm. When the rainfall was more than 10 mm, the maximum soil moisture fluxes of the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces were 0—20 cm, which gradually decreased with increasing rainfall. There was no significant differences in soil moisture fluxes between fish-scale pits and reverse slope terraces. ③ Under continuous rainfall, soil moisture fluxes of fish-scale pits and reverse slope terraces in 0—40 cm layer were 10.73% and 4.72% higher than the soil moisture flux of the control natural slope. The differences between fish-scale pits, reverse slope terraces and the corresponding control natural slope plots were the most significant within 0—20 cm layer (p＜0.05), and the average difference showed an overall decreasing trend. The differences between fish scale pits, reverse slope terraces, and corresponding control natural slope at each soil layer were the most significant when the rainfall was 10—20 mm (p＜0.05), and the maximum increment was at 10 cm, which was 1.35% and 0.53%, respectively. The average soil moisture flux in each layer of the fish-scale pits showed a decreasing trend, and the reverse slope terraces showed an increasing trend. Under different rainfall conditions, the depth of the maximum soil moisture flux of the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces was different. When the rainfall was less than 20 mm, the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces were at 10 and 20 cm, which were 1.58% and 0.72%, respectively. When rainfall was ＞20 mm, the values for both fish-scale pits and reverse slope terraces at 40 cm were 2.61% and 1.92%. There were significant differences in soil moisture flux between each layer of the fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces. When the rainfall was 5—10 mm, there were significant differences in soil moisture fluxes between each layer of the fish-scale pits (p＜0.05), and there were significant differences in soil moisture fluxes between 20—40 cm in the reverse slope terraces (p＜0.05). [Conclusion] The fish-scale pits and the reverse slope terraces had different effects on soil moisture. The fish-scale pits had better water retention under rainfall conditions.