［Objective］ The rainfall characteristics in the Pisha sandstone area during the rainy season， soil moisture dynamics in different forest stands， and their responses to rainfall were analyzed， and the soil moisture variation patterns under different rainfall levels clarified， in order to provide a scientific basis for the selection of afforestation tree species in the Pisha sandstone area. ［Methods］ Based on fixed-point monitoring from July to September 2024， temporal and spatial soil moisture variations in soil depth from 0 to 100 cm in three plantations （pure Caragana korshinskii， pure Pinus tabuliformis， and mixed C. korshinskii × P. tabuliformis forests） in the Pisha sandstone area during the rainy season were analyzed. ［Results］ ① The soil moisture content of the mixed C. korshinskii × P. tabuliformis forest was the highest （26.15%）， followed by that of the pure P. tabuliformis forest （24.15%）， and the lowest in the pure C. korshinskii forest （16.43%）. The soil moisture content of the three forest stand types showed a fluctuating trend， first increasing， then decreasing， and then increasing again with increasing soil depth. ② With rainfall amounts from low to high， the soil moisture replenishment depths were 10 and 60 cm， respectively， and the soil moisture at a depth of 0—100 cm was replenished during heavy rainfall and rainstorm events. Under different rainfall amounts， the soil moisture increment of the pure C. korshinskii forest was the highest， followed by P. tabuliformis； the soil moisture increment of C. korshinskii × P. tabuliformis mixed forest was the lowest. ③ When rainstorm events occurred， all three stands showed responses in the 0—50 cm soil layer， the soil moisture content decreased slowly on the second day， and a water transportation lag appeared in the 50—100 cm soil layer. ［Conclusion］ The overall water holding capacity of mixed forests was better than those of the pure forests， however， the response to increased rainfall was weak. Although the water content of the pure C. korshinskii forest was low， the rainfall absorption capacity was stronger， and the deep soil rainfall response obviously lagged behind. For ecological restoration of the Pisha sandstone area， mixed C. korshinskii × P. tabuliformis forests should be preferentially selected to reduce water loss.