Objective Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks ) is a critical parameter reflecting the transport capacity of water and solutes in soil, and is crucial for understanding and predicting processes such as soil water movement and soil erosion. Investigating the variation patterns and influencing factors of Ks under different vegetation restoration patterns in gully catchment areas of the Loess Plateau is of great significance for improving regional soil and water loss. Methods Thirty-eight typical vegetation restoration plots in the Zhifanggou small watershed (5 bare lands, 3 drylands, 8 arbor forests, 3 other forests, 5 shrub forests, and 14 other grasslands) were selected as the research objects. The Ks, soil physicochemical properties, and root characteristics of the 0-10 cm soil layer in different plots were measured. Spearman correlation analysis, partial least squares regression (PLSR), and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to reveal the influencing mechanisms of vegetation restoration patterns on Ks, and the Ks prediction model was established. Results Significant differences in Ks were observed under different vegetation restoration patterns (p<0.05). The average Ks values were ranked as follows: shrub forests (1.46 mm/min)>other forests (1.36 mm/min)>other grasslands (1.23 mm/min)>arbor forests (1.04 mm/min)>drylands (0.65 mm/min)>bare lands (0.15 mm/min). Spearman analysis and the PLSR model indicated that sand content, clay content, bulk density, maximum water-holding capacity, non-capillary porosity, root volume density, root mass density, root mass density in 1-2 mm diameter classes, and root mass density in 0-1 mm diameter classes were important influencing factors on Ks . Stepwise linear regression showed that after adding root indicators, the explanatory capacity of the prediction model was significantly improved, indicating that intermediate roots significantly optimized Ks by expanding the pore network and offsetting compaction effects. Conclusion Vegetation restoration markedly enhances Ks by improving pore structure through root-soil interactions. The research results provide a scientific basis for optimizing ecological restoration project configurations and hydrological model parameterization in the Loess Plateau.
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