Abstract: The soil water characteristic curves (SWCC) at different soil depths (0-10 cm, loamy; 20-30 cm, side-bleached layer; and 50-60 cm, loess) in a broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountains were measured by dewpoint potential meter. The SWCC at different soil depths showed a trend of fast descending-slow descending-basically stable. The relationship between soil water content and soil water potential could be successfully described by the power function proposed by Gardner et al, and the correlation coefficient was between 0.9239 and 0.9400. The soil water-holding capacity at different soil depths was in the order of 50-60 cm >0-10 cm >20-30 cm, and the decline rate of soil water content along with the decline of soil water potential at different soil depths was in the order of 0-10 cm >20-30 cm >50-60 cm. The desorption curve was located below the absorption curve. A hysteresis between the absorption process and desorption process was observed, and the hysteresis degree was the highest at the depth 0-10 cm, lower at 50-60 cm, and the lowest at 20-30 cm.

Key words: soil water characteristic curve, soil water potential, desorption process, absorption process, soil water content, Quercus variabilis, aboveground, architecture, biomass distribution.