[Objective] As the largest apple producing area in China, the Loess Plateau has faced the problems of aging apple trees and simplification of varieties in recent years. In addition, in order to ensure national food security, many orchards in the Loess Plateau have been converted into farmland. In order to explore the change rule and influencing factors of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity ( Ks ) after returning orchard to farmland. [Methods] In this study, mature apple orchards ( AO ) and orchards with different tillage years ( 2a, 4a, 6a, 10a ) in the Loess Plateau were selected as the research objects, and the original farmland ( CK ) was used as the control. The Ks and soil basic properties of 0-200 cm in different plots were measured. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation model were used to analyze the response characteristics and influencing factors of Ks after returning orchard to farmland in the Loess Plateau. [Results] With the increase of returning years, the average soil water content, clay and silt content in 0-200 cm of farmland showed a decreasing trend. The average sand content showed an increasing trend. The order of Ks mean values in different plots is 2.25±1.19 cm/h(6a)＞1.60±0.71 cm/h(AO)＞1.49±0.29 cm/h(4a)＞1.46±0.44 cm/h(2a)＞1.40±0.40 cm/h(CK)＞1.04±0.61 cm/h(10a). On the whole, with the increase of returning years, the average value of Ks increased first and then decreased. With the increase of soil depth, Ks in different plots showed a decreasing trend. The direct influencing factors of Ks were soil bulk density and organic matter content, and the indirect influencing factors were tillage years and soil depth. [Conclusion] The research results can provide theoretical support for the response law of soil water movement to land use change in loess tableland area, and provide scientific basis for promoting the prevention and control of soil erosion and the rational use of land in this area.