[Objective] Plot tests were designed to study the effects of coal gangues and caliche nodules on the characteristics of plant growth and soil water content on the Loess Plateau. This study was important for accurate quantification of soil water content and scientifically formulating vegetation restoration strategies.[Method] Caragana (Caragana korshinskii Kom.) and Alfalfa (Medicago sativa.) were planted in 2 m³ experimental plots underground, containing reconstituted soil, made up of the fine earth and either coal gangues or caliche nodules (300 g·kg^-1) under natural climate conditions. The water content and plant growth were regularly observed.[Result] The results showed that coal gangues negatively affected plant development and quality, while caliche nodules had no significant effect. The accumulative aboveground biomass of Caragana and alfalfa in the soil containing coal gangues was 47% and 21% lower than that in the fine earth, respectively. Also, the accumulative aboveground biomass of Caragana and alfalfa in the soil containing coal gangues was 45% and 24% lower than that in the soil containing caliche nodules, respectively. Therefore, the adaptability of alfalfa to the soil containing coal gangues was better than that of Caragana. Plant species had weak effects on soil water content when compared to the media types. The water content of the soil with coal gangues was significantly higher than that of the other two media. The differences in the water content between medium types were the largest at a depth of 30 to 50 cm. When Caragana was planted, the differences of evapotranspiration between soils containing coal gangues and caliche nodules, and between soils containing coal gangues and the fine earth accounted for about 12% and 23% of the average water storage of the fine earth, respectively. Also, when alfalfa was planted, the differences of evapotranspiration between soils containing coal gangues and caliche nodules, and between soils containing coal gangues and fine earth accounted for -11% and 11% of the average water storage of the fine earth, respectively. Importantly, the inhibiting effects of coal gangue and caliche nodules on soil water loss were different and varied with plant species.[Conclusion] In conclusion, we observed that the importance of coal gangues and caliche nodules cannot be ignored when predicting soil water content, especially under vegetation coverage.