The present paper analyzed the characteristics of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of metal element Cu in soil using the Nd∶YAG (wavelength: 1 064 nm) laser as the excitation source, where the spectral signals were detected by the highly resolved and wide spectral echelle spectrograph and intensified charge coupled device (ICCD). The time evolution of the characteristic spectral line of Cu was obtained by changing the delay time of ICCD at the same concentration and the gate of ICCD with wavelength of 329.396 nm of Cu as the characteristic spectral line, from which the best delay time 1.1 μs was found. By measuring the intensities of the characteristic spectral line with different Cu concentrations, it was demonstrated that the intensities of the spectral line increased with the concentration of Cu under the condition of low concentration. From the results the LIBS calibration curve of Cu was obtained, and by fitting calculation the detection limit of Cu in soil at 13.36 μg·g-1 was obtained.