Abstract: The energy transfer and distribution of the soil-residue-plant canopy layers in typical vegetation cover types were simulated from April to September in 2007, using one dimension water and heat transfer model SHAW (the simultaneous heat and water), at Liudaogou watershed in the farming-pastoral zone of the Loess Plateau. The results showed that the proportion of short wave radiation absorbed by plant canopy layer was more than soil layer and residue layer for Pinus tabulaeformis and Caragana korshinskii at the sun-facing slope, and for Medicago sativa at the shaded slope. For Stipa bungeana and Setaria italica at the shaded slope, the proportion of soil layer absorbed short wave radiation was higher. 91% of long wave effective radiation came from plant canopy layer for P. tabulaeformis at the sun-facing slope, and soil layer released less long wave effective radiation. However, the proportion of long wave effective radiation was higher in soil layer than the residue layer and plant canopy layer for C. korshinskii, M. sativa, S. bungeana and S. italica. The simulation of energy balance indicated that the energy outgoing components were latent heat, followed by sensible heat from M. sativa and S. italica at the shaded slope, and the energy outgoing components were contrary for S. bungeana at the shaded slope, P. tabulaeformis and C. korshinskii forest at the sun-facing slope.