Abstract: Responses of soil quality indexes to land use of different patterns were explored.Results show that by using the Main Factor Analysis Method the 22 soil quality indexes in the Beibei karst mountain region of Chongqing could be sorted into 4 categories represented,respectively,by organic matter,available soil water,aeration porosity,and percentage of bacteria. The 4 categories reflect basically comprehensive conditions of soil quality.Path analysis shows that soil water holding(capacity) under different patterns of land use is mainly correlated with organic matter,and >0.25 mm water stable aggregates,and their effects are higher than that of clay.When land use patterns changed,changes in soil quality were embodied in content of organic matter,soil water holding and supplying capacity,soil structure and soil microbial characteristics.

Key words: land use, soil quality, response, karst