ObjectiveTo explore the change rule and influencing factors of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) after returning orchard to farmland.MethodsAging apple orchards (AO) and orchards with different tillage years (2 a, 4 a, 6 a, 10 a) on the Loess Plateau were selected as the research objects, and the pure farmland (CK) was used as the control. The Ks and soil basic properties of the 0—200 cm layer in different plots were measured. Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the response characteristics and influencing factors of Ks after returning orchard to farmland on the Loess Plateau.ResultsWith the increase of returning years, the average clay and silt content in 0—200 cm soil layer of farmland showed a decreasing trend, the average sand content showed an increasing trend. The order of the mean values of Ks in different plots was (2.25±1.19) cm/h (6 a) > (1.60±0.71) cm/h (AO) > (1.49±0.29) cm/h (4 a) > (1.46±0.44) cm/h (2 a) > (1.40±0.40) cm/h (CK) > (1.04±0.61) cm/h (10 a). 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 influencing factor of Ks in the 0—40 cm soil layer was organic matter content, and the influencing factors of Ks in the 40—100 and 100—200 cm soil layers were soil bulk density and organic matter content.ConclusionReturning orchard to farmland significantly affected the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of Ks, and the influencing factors were different at different depths, which were depth-dependent. The results can provide a data basis and theoretical basis for the study of soil water cycle after returning orchard to farmland on the Loess Plateau.