Abstract: Taking three typical plantation and grassland（Prunus armeniaca forest, Hippophae rhamnoides forest, alfalfa land） in Pengyang Zhongzhuang small watershed of Ningxia as the sample sites, the soil volumetric moisture content of 0—2 m in the growing season（May to October） from 2020 to 2022 was monitored by using soil temperature and humidity monitor, and the dynamic change characteristics of soil water were analyzed, in order to provide reference for rational selection of forest and grass and effective utilization of water resources.The results showed that, 1) during the growing season, the seasonal variation of soil moisture in different forests and grasses could be divided into two periods, consumption period（May—August） and compensation period（September—October）.The rainfall in normal water years（2020 and 2021） varied greatly with the season, while the rainfall in dry year（2022） varied little with the season, and the soil moisture changed gently.In the three years, the soil moisture of different forest and grass plots showed the order of Prunus armeniaca forest＞Hippophae rhamnoides forest＞alfalfa land.2) The soil moisture of 0-40 cm of different forest and grassland land was easily affected by rainfall, and the seasonal fluctuation was the highest; the soil moisture of 40-100 cm was less affected by rainfall, and the seasonal fluctuation began to weaken; the soil moisture of 100-200 cm was least affected by rainfall, and the seasonal fluctuation was relatively stable.3) The annual variation trend of soil water profile distribution in different forest and grassland areas was consistent, and the variation of soil water profile was in the order of normal water year（2020）＞normal water year（2021）＞dry year（2022）,which was consistent with the change of annual rainfall.