[Objective] Studing the soil and water conservation benefits of walnut forest with different ages and planting patterns

in order to provide a theoretical basis for the improvement of walnut forest cultivation technology system and effective prevention and control of soil and water conservation in Xingtai City.[Methods] The runoff fields of bare land and different walnut woodlands in Xingtai City

Hebei Province were used as the research objects. Runoff and sediment characteristics of the walnut forests were studied after the natural rainfall with the bare land as control by the method of field measurement and laboratory analysis.[Results] (1) In the conventional walnut forests

walnut-alfalfa forests and walnut-eco-stocking(with chicken in site) forests

the soil and water conservation effects of the walnut-alfalfa forests were the best with the runoff coefficient of 0.14% to 0.30% and the runoff sediment concentration of 4.04 kg/m3 to 8.95 kg/m3; (2) In the same walnut forests planting mode

the soil and water conservation effect gradually increased with the growth of walnut trees

the runoff coefficient and runoff sediment concentration of 5 a walnut forests were 95.90% and 83.63% of the corresponding value of 3 a walnut forests averagely

and 8 a walnut forests were 94.54% and 77.66% of the value of 3 a walnut forests averagely.[Conclusion] Suitable planting pattern of the walnut forests could control the erosion effectively and increase the economic benefits

so reasonable choices should be made according to the terrain conditions and rainfall characteristics of different regions for practical application.