Hydrological functions of main planted forest litters were assessed by measuring and analyzing the litter amount

the water holding capacity

and the processes with methods of field survey and soaking extra tion experiment in the loess hilly region of Western Shanxi Province.The relationship between water-holding capacity of litter

water absorption rate and soaking time was established.The results showed that the litter amount ranged from 6.81 to 56.64 t/hm2

with a decrease order of Larix gmelini Rupr. X Betula platyphylla Suk.forest

followed by Larix gmelinii Rupr.forest

Platycladus orientalis(I

inn.)Franco forest

Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.X black locust forest

Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. forest

Betula platyphylla Suk.forest

Caragana korshinskii Kom.forest

black locust forest.The maximum water-holding volume of different forests litters ranged from 10.08 to 100.78 t/hm2

the maximum water holding rate ranged from 146.54%to 203.74%

and the mixed interception amount and the effective interception amount showed similar trends with values from 9.41 to 88.65 t/hm2

and 7.90 to 73.53 t/hm2.Soaking experiments showed that the water-holding volume increased logarithmically with soaking time

while the water-absorption rate showed an inverse function with soaking time.And the water-holding volume increased sharply during the first 0.5 h

then slowly increased

when soaking 12 h

basically reached the maximum water holding volume

and water holding capacity tends dynamic equilibrium.Comprehensively speaking

the litter water holding characteristics of Larix gmelinii Rupr. X Betula platphylla eight kinds of plantation forest

and black locust forest platyphylla Suk. mixed forest was the host one of was the worst one.