Soil water,the effective water source for plant growth,has become a key limiting factor in vegetation restoration and ecological reconstruction in Chinas desert steppe,because of the semi-arid climate and water scarcity.However,without an appropriate scientific guidance,revegetation and cultivation may result in excessive water consumption and soil water deficit in different soil layers,which in turn restrict significantly the local ecological restoration and environmental enhancement.Based on local rainfall and soil water condition, quantitative evaluation of soil water deficit and its profile distribution is the premise and foundation for proper vegetation restoration and sustainable ecological development in desert steppe,and there is one of the top research priorities at present with both theatrical and practical significance.In this study,we selected a typical desert steppe area located in the Yangzhaizi village,Yanchi county,Ningxia province of China,to qutantify the response of soil water deficit under different land-use type.Soil water under natural grassland, drylands and Caragana korshinskii forest were analyzed on field sampling and laboratory test.For comparision, the background soil water content was set to the value of natural grassland which was banned grazing for a long period.Then,compared soil water deficit index(CSWDI),plot compared soil water deficit index(PCSWDI),effective soil water storage(ESWS),deficient soil water storage(DSWS),coefficient of variation were calculated and analyzed to quantify soil water deficit degree and its profile distribution under different land-use type.The results showed:(1)Compared with natural grassland,the soil water under different land-use type in desert steppe was deficited.From June to October,the variation tendency of soil water storage and effective soil water storage under different land-use type were the same.And the rainfall was vail supply to soil water.(2)When the soil layer water storage of drylands from 0 to 200 cm was deficit,CSWDI value range was from 3.21 to 5.57.And the serious deficient soil layer was 180 cm to 200 cm,the second soil layer was 40 cm to 60 cm.The soil layer water storage of natural grassland from 0 to 200 cm was sufficient, and the soil CSWDI value were fluctuate changing along with the changing of months.The relative soil water deficient condition of Caragana korshinskii forest was between dryland and natrual grassland.The soil water deficiency of Caragana korshinskii forest from 120 cm to 140 cm was worse than other soil layers.(3)Dryland soil water deficient condition was in a serious condition.The average PCSWDI value from 0 to 100 cm soil layer was 2.05,and the value from 100 cm to 200 cm was 7.2.From May to September,the natural grassland soil water deficiency was mainly focused on the surface.Soil moisture was abundant as soil was deepened.Compared with natural grassland,the condition of Caragana korshinskii forests soil water just the opposite.(4)The variability of dryland from 100 cm to 180 cm soil layer belonged to strong variability with CVbeing 1.03 to 1.71,and other soil layers water variability were moderate variability.