Rainfall affects soil moisture in hilly areas, impacting vegetation growth and water resources. A study in China's Three Gorges Reservoir Area monitored soil moisture in different forest types and deforested areas. Results showed that more rain led to increased soil moisture, with forests capturing more water than deforested land. Canopy interception by trees reduced the amount of rain reaching the soil. In wet periods, forests needed more rain to trigger soil moisture increase compared to other areas. However, in dry periods, all sites responded similarly to rainfall. Overall, forests stored more water and had higher soil moisture levels than deforested areas.