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Although plant restoration is essential for improving soil structure and stability, there are still few systematic assessments of its impacts across various restored vegetation species, especially in environmentally sensitive areas like the East Qinling Mountains. In order to provide a scientific foundation for optimizing restoration tactics and enhancing soil erosion control and ecosystem services in the area, this study attempts to assess the impacts of different recovered plant types on soil aggregate stability and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. The Pinus tabuliformis Carrière, Quercus variabilis Blume, Robinia pseudoacacia L., Pinus tabulaeformis-Quercus variabilis mixed forest, Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco and abandoned grassland were the six vegetation types represented by the sixteen plots. Farmland was used as a control. Soil samples were taken from three depths (0–5 cm, 5–20 cm, and 20–40 cm) and evaluated for root biomass, soil organic matter (SOM), and water-stable aggregate dispersion. Mean weight diameter (MWD), fractal dimension (D), macroaggregate content of diameter > 0.25 mm (R0.25), and percentage of aggregate disruption (PAD) were used to evaluate aggregate stability. One-way ANOVA, LSD multiple comparisons, and Spearman correlation analysis were among the statistical analyses. In comparison to grassland and farming, forested regions, particularly mixed forests, showed considerably higher proportions of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) and superior aggregate stability (higher MWD and R0.25, lower D and PAD). Increased litter and coarse root inputs, which encouraged big water-stable aggregates (WSAs) and reinforced their positive connection with SOM, were the driving forces behind this development. Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco displayed the highest SOM concentration and root biomass (1201.45 and 679.66 g/m2, respectively). At all depths, mixed forests showed the most stable soil structure. In contrast to agriculture, vegetation restoration dramatically changed the mechanical composition of the soil, increasing the differentiation of particle-size fractions across soil layers and decreasing the amount of surface clay. Soil aggregate stability is greatly enhanced by vegetation restoration, with mixed forests offering the greatest advantages because of their varied root systems and increased input of organic matter. These results emphasize how crucial it is to choose the right vegetation types for restoration efforts in order to improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and promote ecological sustainability in the East Qinling Mountains.