Soil organic matter was the major driving force for improvement of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) in nine stands of the secondary zone of Ziwuling Forest in the Loess Plateau. Values of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity quickly reduced with depth under different communities, though at 5-10 cm depth both Bothriochloa ischaemum and Vanward grassland had a permeable layer. The average Ks for each soil profile progressively declined from that for Quercus liaotungensis to early forest, to shrub, to Pioneer grass and to farmland abandoned to Bothriochloa ischaemum, respectively. Values for shrub land were significantly higher than for Vanward grassland and abandoned farmland. Quercus liaotungensis supported the highest values under the nine stands, with vegetative restoration notability improving Ks. Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity was directly affected by soil bulk density, capillary porosity, > 0.25mm aggregate content and clay content. Soil physical properties such as soil bulk density, capillary porosity and aggregate content were all improved by soil organic matter content.