The water holding capacity was characterized for the litters from eight plantation types in the mountainous area of Napahai Plateau Wetland. The results show that

for all the eight plantation types

the semi-decomposed and decomposed layer had higher litter storage and water reserv-ing capacity than the freshly-littered layer.The litter storage decreased from highwood

shrub to waste grassland.Specifically

the litter storages of naturalPicea asperataMast

mixed forest ofPinus densataMast andRhododendron simsiiPlanch

mixed forest of Salix cupularisRehd andBetula platyphyllaSuk

Crataegus pinnatifidaBge and waste grassland demonstrated a capacity of 36.60

30.67

26.63

25.61 and 5.30t/hm2

respectively. Comparatively

mixed forest ofSalix cupularisRehd andBetula platyphylla Suk had the highest water holding capacity

and seriously human-disturbedPinus densataMast had the lowest.The water holding capacity of the litters increased rapidly during the initial first hour

and then slightly increased after 6～10 hour saturation.The highest water absorp-tion rates were observed in the first 30minute saturation time

and thereafter the rates decreased substantially.Water loss rates were similar for all the litters

showing a linear decreas-ing trend.Systematic analysis indicated that the litter of mixed forest ofSalix cupularis Rehd andBetula platyphyllaSuk had the highest water holding capacity

the strongest flood-adjusting capacity

the most ideal water loss process and the highest water supply capacity

and the best hydro-ecological effect among the eight plantation types.