Pinus koraiensis

Larix keampfari

Quercus mongolica

polar-birch

Populus davidiana

weed trees

Shrubbery of Juglans mandshurica and the grass land in Great Liaohe River basin were investigated and studied to explore the hydrological characteristic of litter layer of water conservation forest and the relations between water-holding capacity

water absorption rate and soaking time of litters were established through field investigate and soak experiment.The results indicated that:(1)Among all the types of litters

the total thickness and existing litter amount of Quercus mongolica were the largest

4.83cm and 30.70t/hm2 respectively

and the shrubbery was the least with 0.65cm and 3.32t/hm2 respectively.(2)The maximum water holding capacity ranged from 3.97t/hm2 to 36.02t/hm2

the mixed water retaining capacity from 3.34t/hm2 to 34.06t/hm2

and the most effective water reaining capacity from 0.85t/hm2 to 20.39t/hm2 with the highest value in the Quercus mongolicaforest and the lowest in grassland.(3)Soak experiments demonstrated that water holding capacity and soaking time had remarkable logarithmic correlation

while the absorption rate and soaking time was of a power function.The dynamic changes of the water-holding capacity and the water-absorption rate were generally similar for litters of different forest types.