Abstract: The conceptual hydrological model represented by the ABCD model is one of the main methods to quantify and analyze the hydrological cycle processes. However, few studies have examined the physical basis of the variables and parameters of the ABCD model and quantified the relationship between parameters in the conceptual hydrological model and traditional soil hydraulic parameters. In this study, we select the Taigemiao mining area in the Ordos basin as the research site. The HYDRUS-1D software is used to construct the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) model at a site scale for obtaining the “real” actual evapotranspiration during the non-freezing period. The actual evapotranspiration obtained from the SPAC model is considered as the objective function of the ABCD model for calibrating the ABCD model. The soil water storage and soil water leakage simulated by the ABCD model are compared with the results of the SPAC model. The relationships between the parameters of a and b in the ABCD model and the traditional soil hydraulic parameters are analyzed through a large number of scenario simulations. The results show that the ABCD model can better simulate the site-scale monthly actual evapotranspiration and soil water leakage during the non-freezing period. It is indicated that parameter a in the ABCD model has a strong linear correlation with the saturated water content, residual water content and curve shape parameters, while it shows a negative logarithmic relation to the saturated coefficient of permeability. It is also found that parameter b has a strong linear correlation with the saturated water content and curve shape parameter n, while the logarithmic relationships is revealed between parameter b and the saturated coefficient of permeability and curve shape parameter α. This study can improve the understanding of the physical basis of variables and parameters in conceptual hydrological models, and expands the application of hydrological models to hydrogeology.