Gross litter reserves and hydrological characteristic parameters

such as the maximum water capacity

maximum water holding rate and modified interception amount

were studied through the water holding experiment and litter reserves survey on Pinus tabulaeformis forest stands in the Miyun Reservoir

Badaling Forestry Center and Shisanling Forestry Center in Beijing City. Results showed that the three regions

in order of decreasing gross litter reserve and maximum water capacity

were Badaling Forestry Center

Shisanling Forestry Center and Miyun Reservoir. In addition

the maximum water holding rate

average water absorption rate and modified interception amount were the highest in Shisanling Forestry Center

followed by Badaling Forestry Center

and the lowest in Miyun Reservoir. However

the water conserving function of Pinus tabulaeformis litter was relatively poor in the three regions

especially in the Miyun Reservoir. When rainfall is less than the critical value

the water conserving function of litter was best in Badaling Forestry Center; when rainfall is larger than the critical value

the water conserving function was best in Shisanling Forestry Center. The water conserving function of Pinus tabulaeformis in Shisanling Forestry Center was better than other two regions.